最新美国发明专利第2014-07-15期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08778375B2	Amorphous poly(D,L-lactide) coating Implantable devices formed of or coated with a material that includes an amorphous poly(D,L-lactide) formed of a starting material such as meso-D,L-lactide are provided. The implantable device can be used for the treatment, mitigation, prevention, or inhibition of a disorder such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, restenosis, hemorrhage, vascular dissection or perforation, vascular aneurysm, vulnerable plaque, chronic total occlusion, patent foramen ovale, claudication, anastomotic proliferation for vein and artificial grafts, bile duct obstruction, ureter obstruction, tumor obstruction, or combinations thereof.
US08778372B2	Dual-action pest control formulation and method The present disclosure provides a dual-action pest control formulation for controlling rodents and arthropods, the formulation including: a rodenticide; an insecticide; an optional attractant; and a carrier matrix. The present disclosure also provides a method of controlling rodents and arthropods, the method including: applying the dual action pest formulation to a target area.
US08778366B2	Enalapril compositions Provided herein are stable enalapril powder compositions for oral liquid formulation. Also provided herein are methods of using enalapril oral liquid formulations for the treatment of certain diseases including hypertension, heart failure and asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction.
US08778364B2	Nanodispersion of a drug and process for its preparation A nanodispersion containing nanoparticles having a mean size less than 300 nm dispersed in a vehicle that includes a water miscible solvent and water. The nanoparticles contain one or more drugs, a polymer and a surfactant, and the surfactant includes a mixture of fatty acids or its salts and sterol or its derivatives or its salts.
US08778358B2	Immunogenic compositions for gram positive bacteria such as Streptococcus agalactiae The invention relates to the identification of a new adhesin islands within the genomes of several Group A and Group B Streptococcus serotypes and isolates. The adhesin islands are thought to encode surface proteins which are important in the bacteria's virulence. Thus, the adhesin island proteins of the invention may be used in immunogenic compositions for prophylactic or therapeutic immunization against GAS or GBS infection. For example, the invention may include an immunogenic composition comprising one or more of the discovered adhesin island proteins.
US08778353B2	Influenza virus-like particle (VLP) compositions Influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) comprising influenza antigenic polypeptides are described. Also described are compositions comprising these VLPs as well as methods of making and using these VLPs.
US08778351B2	Combined human papillomavirus VLP/gene delivery system and use thereof as a vaccine for prophylaxis and immunotherapy of infectious diseases and tumors The present invention relates to compositions that contain a chimeric papillomavirus virus-like particle (VLP) in combination with a DNA molecule encoding a protein or polypeptide epitope. The chimeric papillomavirus VLP is assembled from an L1 protein or polypeptide and a chimeric protein or polypeptide containing at least a portion of the L2 protein and a protein or polypeptide including an immunogenic epitope. The composition is useful for inducing an enhanced immune response against a pathogen or a tumor.
US08778345B2	Anti-CD40 antibodies The present invention provides high affinity anti-CD40 monoclonal antibodies and related compositions, which may be used in any of a variety of therapeutic methods for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
US08778337B2	Use of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of alzheimer's disease The use of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) in combination with superoxide dismutase (SOD) for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
US08778336B2	Stabilized proteases that have been immobilized and further crosslinked for use in skin care Disclosed is an invention which relates to synthesizing immobilized and crosslinked proteases derived from plants for use as skin care agents. The resulting stabilized protease will minimally penetrate the skin because of its immobilized nature. It will retain activity because of its crosslinked nature and, in certain embodiments, due to its stabilization via physical additives. The present invention relates in particular to a linked papain product used in topical skin applications.
US08778335B2	Methods of treating and diagnosing Parkinson's disease and related dysautonomic disorders A method for treating a Parkinson's patient with digestive/pancreatic enzymes involves administering an effective amount of digestive/pancreatic enzymes to an individual having the disorder in order to improve a symptom of the disorder. In addition, a method is provided for determining whether an individual has, or may develop, Parkinson's disease or related dysautonomic disorders and for determining whether an individual will benefit from the administration of pancreatic/digestive enzymes to treat the dysautonomic disorder.
US08778334B2	Method of identifying whether or not an individual has Parkinson's Disease rather than another neurodegenerative disease The present invention relates to method of identifying whether or not an individual has Parkinson's disease (PD). In particular, the invention relates to a method for identifying whether or not an individual has PD as opposed to another neurodegenerative disease. The method of the invention comprises measuring the concentration of α-synuclein (α-syn) and the concentration of unphosphorylated tau (tau) and/or phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in a cerebrospinal fluid sample taken from an individual. The method also comprises calculating the ratio of the concentration of tau and/or p-tau to the concentration of α-syn, and thereby determining whether or not the individual has PD.
US08778321B2	Modification of cellulosic substrates to control body odor A finish for cellulosic fibrous substrates containing tertiary amine-containing polymers for providing durable control of body odors and the cellulosic materials treated with the finish, which materials exhibit little or no discoloration and little or no degradation of physical strength as a result of the treatment.
US08778318B2	Hair care composition comprising pyrithione and a pearliser system based on bismuth oxychloride Hair care composition comprising a metal pyrithione and a pearliser system characterized by a bismuth oxychloride component.
US08778313B2	Aqueous fluid photoprotective compositions comprising ester-terminated poly(ester amide) polymers Enhanced SPF and/or reduced fluffing fluid compositions for photoprotecting the skin and/or the hair against the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation, contain: (a) at least one photoprotective system capable of screening out UV radiation; and (b) at least one ester-terminated poly(ester amide) (ETPEA) polymer, formulated into (c) a topically applicable, cosmetically acceptable aqueous support therefor; the subject aqueous compositions are advantageously vaporizable, especially in the form of sprays, confined within a pressurization device.
US08778311B2	Oral zinc compositions The present invention relates to an oral composition comprising, in an orally acceptable carrier, from about 0.1% to about 5% zinc oxide; and from about 0.1% to about 5% of a source of carbonate ions selected from alkali metal and ammonium carbonates and bicarbonates. The molar ratio of carbonate ion to zinc ion is from about 0.05:1 to about 1:1. The composition has good antiplaque efficacy and taste. Preferred compositions are toothpastes.
US08778309B2	Fluorescent pyrazine derivatives and methods of using the same in assessing renal function The present invention relates to pyrazine derivatives represented by Formula I. X1 and X2 of Formula I may be characterized as electron withdrawing groups, while Y1 and Y2 of Formula I may be characterized as electron donating groups. Pyrazine derivatives of the present invention may be utilized in assessing organ (e.g., kidney) function. In a particular example, an effective amount of a pyrazine derivative that is capable of being renally cleared may be administered into a patient's body. The pyrazine derivative may be capable of one or both absorbing and emanating spectral energy of at least about 400 nm (e.g., visible and/or infrared light). At least some of the derivative that is in the body may be exposed to spectral energy and, in turn, spectral energy may emanate from the derivative. This emanating spectral energy may be detected and utilized to determine renal function of the patient
US08778308B2	Angiogensis models using nestin-expressing stem cells to image nascent blood vessels The disclosed invention relates to the observation that nestin expression is a marker for endothelial cell proliferation. Nestin expression is particularly useful as a marker for angiogenesis, particularly for tumor-related angiogenesis. Specifically, nestin serves as an excellent endothelium marker for brain tumors such as gliomas, hemangioblastomas, Schwannomas, medulloblastomas, and meningiomas. Accordingly, the disclosed invention relates to the use of this marker as a basis to model angiogenic activity.
US08778306B2	Colon lavage system The present invention provides compositions, systems, kits, and methods for preparation prior to a colonoscopy or other gastrointestinal procedure. In particular, the present invention provides a colon lavage system comprising an aqueous portion and a solid portion.
US08778303B2	99mTc-labeled 19 amino acid containing peptide for use as phosphatidylethanolamine binding molecular probe and radiopharmaceutical The invention encompasses radiopharmaceutical compounds that can be used in imaging cell death associated with either apoptosis or necrosis. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdE) is externalized to the surface of apoptotic cells, and also becomes accessible in necrotic cells due to compromised plasma membrane integrity. Duramycin, a 19 amino acid polypeptide, binds PtdE at a 1:1 ratio with high affinity and exclusive specificity. Novel Duramycin-based radiopharmaceuticals and non-radioactively labeled compounds are disclosed herein. Such compounds facilitate detection of cell apoptosis and/or necrosis by binding to PtdE. The location of the bound compound can then be pinpointed using standard imaging techniques.
US08778299B2	Methods for diagnosis and intervention of hepatic disorders The disclosure provides a method for quantification of hepatic function in a subject comprising measuring the clearance of an orally administered isotopically labeled cholic acid in a subject with, or suspected of having or developing, a hepatic disorder, for example, chronic hepatitis C. The disclosure further provides methods and kits for assessment of hepatic function.
US08778298B2	Isotope labeled 2-arylpropionic acid compounds and process for production of same, and molecular probe for positron emission tomography and method for imaging of cyclooxygenase and the like using same Disclosed are: labeled NSAIDs compounds which can be produced within a short time, can be used suitably for a PET method, and enable the imaging of cyclooxygenase-2; and a process for producing the labeled NSAIDs compounds. Specifically disclosed are isotope-labeled 2-arylpropionic acid compounds, each of which is a compound represented by general formula (1) (wherein Ar represents an aryl group which may have a substituent; R1 represents anyone selected from 11CH3, CH218F and CF218F; and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group which may have a branch, wherein a compound wherein Ar is a benzene ring, R1 is 11CH3, and R2 is a hydrogen atom is excluded), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate or prodrug thereof.
US08778295B2	Combinatorial synthesis of diamond Disclosed is a combinatorial synthesis of Diamond wherein a first reactive species is produced by catalytic treatment of Acetylene, a second reactive species is produced by decomposition of a hydrocarbon source having a low Hydrogen-to-Carbon ratio using a high energy discharge, and the two reactive species so obtained are combined in the vapor phase to yield Diamond without the need of post-treatments. The reaction is efficient and affords Diamond under mild conditions with high purity such that it may be useful for producing Diamond for semiconductor and microelectronics applications.
US08778291B2	Treatment of zirconia-based material with ammonium bi-fluoride A process for treating a zirconia-based material comprises reacting, in a reaction step, the zirconia-based material with ammonium bifluoride, NH4F.HF. An ammonium fluorozirconic compound is produced.
US08778285B2	Clamping system The present invention relates to a clamping system comprising two or more grids of springs in a flow module or in a plate reactor. The invention also relates to methods for opening and closing a clamping system, a frame arrangement, a control system for pressure release, and a use of the clamping system as a plate reactor.
US08778283B2	Reagent delivery system A delivery apparatus for selectively delivering one or more liquid reagents into a reaction or test chamber (2), especially of an assay apparatus, the apparatus comprising: one or more respective storage chambers (5,6) for containing the one or more liquid reagents and arranged generally above the reaction or test chamber (2); and a plunger element (4) arranged and operable for insertion into the mouth of a selected storage chamber so as to displace a selected reagent from therewithin into the reaction or test chamber (2) generally therebelow by gravitational liquid overflow from the mouth of the chamber. The apparatus may conveniently be provided as a discrete delivery unit, with the storage chambers (5,6) prefilled with the selected reagents.
US08778282B2	Microfluidic device having microvalve A microfluidic device including a microvalve includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, an elastic film between the first and second substrates, a microfluidic channel on the second substrate, a valve seat of the second substrate protruding in the microfluidic channel, and a fine structure on a surface of the elastic film, facing the valve seat and which contacts the valve seat when the microvalve is operated.
US08778280B2	Microfluidic chips and assay systems The systems and methods described herein include a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfeatures interconnected to provide a configurable fluid transport system for processing at least one reagent. Inserts are provided to removably interfit into one or more of the microfeatures of the chip, wherein the inserts include sites for interactions with the reagent. As will be seen from the following description, the microfluidic chip and the inserts provide an efficient and accurate approach for conducting parallel assays.
US08778276B2	Detection device The present invention provides devices, in particular lateral flow devices, for detecting a target analyte on a surface, in which the elements of collection and detection are integrated. The present invention also provides methods of use thereof.
US08778274B2	Ozone gas supply system An ozone gas output flow rate management unit configured to receive a plurality of ozone gas outputs from a plurality of ozone generation units and capable of performing an ozone gas output flow rate control for selectively outputting one or a combination of two or more of the plurality of ozone gas outputs to any of a plurality of ozone treatment apparatuses by performing an opening/closing operation of a plurality of ozone gas control valves provided in the ozone gas output flow rate management unit.
US08778269B2	Nanoelectronic electrochemical test device Nanoelectronic devices for the detection and quantification of biomolecules are provided. In certain embodiments, the devices are configured to detect and measure blood glucose levels. Also provided are methods of fabricating nanoelectronic devices for the detection of biomolecules.
US08778264B2	Fluid treatment systems Systems and methods for treating a fluid by passing fluid through a treatment structure, the fluid containing undesirable living things, the treatment structure containing electrically conductive nanomaterial with silver, flowing an electric current in the fluid in the treatment structure via the electrically conductive nanomaterial with silver or silver material to kill undesirable living things in the treatment structure, and killing undesirable things in the treatment structure.
US08778261B2	Steel material for automobile chassis parts superior in fatigue characteristics and method of production of automobile chassis parts using the same The present invention provides a steel material for automobile chassis parts, having high fatigue characteristics, without a heat treatment, and superior shapeability, and a method of production of such automobile chassis parts. The surface of the steel has a high hardness and the center has a low hardness, providing the superior characteristics. With an annealing step of the invention, it is possible to relieve internal stress and further improve fatigue characteristics.
US08778256B1	Deformation of a polymer tube in the fabrication of a medical article Methods of manufacturing a medical article that include radial deformation of a polymer tube are disclosed. A medical article, such as an implantable medical device or an inflatable member, may be fabricated from a deformed tube.
US08778254B2	Method and apparatus for the production of fine fibres A method and apparatus provided for the production of fine fibers by electrospinning fibers by applying an electrical field between a primary electrode and a counter electrode (5) spaced apart from the primary electrode and extending generally parallel thereto wherein at least an operative surface of the primary electrode is coated with a polymer solution (3) and an electric field of sufficient magnitude is generated between the primary electrode and counter electrode to cause the formation of fine fibers (9) in the space between the electrodes. The operative surface of the primary electrode that is coated with polymer solution is made up of appropriate portions of the surfaces of a multitude of operatively semi-submerged, loose (unattached) elements (1, 11, 17, 21) supported on the bottom of a trough (2) or tray or another support member or members (12, 18, 22). Facility is included for causing polymer solution to be applied to the exposed surfaces of the loose elements by causing them to roll in the polymer solution so that they become coated with a thin layer of polymer solution on their surfaces.
US08778252B2	Three-dimensional printing system using dual rotation axes A 3-D printer system moves a printed tool over a print surface with a mechanism controlling a rotational angle of an arm holding the print tool and a revolutionary angle of axis of rotation of the printable area to eliminate the disadvantages of conventionally used linear motion mechanisms.
US08778250B2	Method of manufacturing a container assembly and a container assembly A method of manufacturing together a support (10) and frame (20) of a container assembly (1), the method comprising: providing a single mold (100) with a first cavity (110) defining the support (10) and a second cavity (120) defining the frame (20); injecting first material into the first cavity (110); and injecting second material into the second cavity (120); wherein the first and second materials are different materials.
US08778249B2	Porous, carbon-containing preform and process for producing the same There is provided a porous, carbon-containing preform, including a body (CL) of unidirectional carbon fiber fabrics (C1), and a friction layer (FL) of randomly-arranged-carbon-fiber fabrics (F1), combined with the body (CL) by a needle-punching operation. According to the present invention, it is by the needle-punching operation that the friction layer (FL) of the randomly-arranged-carbon fiber fabric (F1) is formed on the body (CL) of the unidirectional carbon fiber fabric (C1) and the friction layer (FL) of the randomly-arranged-carbon-fiber (F1) is cross-linked to the body (CL) of the unidirectional carbon fiber fabric (C1) in producing the porous, carbon-containing preform.
US08778247B2	Polyamide films for flexible printed circuit boards The invention relates to a polymer film made of a polyamide composition comprising at least 80 weight percentage (wt. %) of a semi-crystalline semi-aromatic polyamide with a melting temperature (Tm) of at least 270° C., wherein the wt. % is relative to the total weight of the polymer composition, wherein the polymer film has an average coefficient of thermal expansion in plane in the temperature range of 20° C.-Tg, measured in plane with the method according to ASTM D969-08, of at most 40 ppm/K. The said film can be made from a polyamide moulding composition comprising said polyamide by film casting followed by biaxial stretching. The film has properties suitable for carrier films in flexible printed circuit boards.
US08778244B2	Method of producing a filtering cartridge Disclosed are filtering cartridge and methods of producing the filtering cartridge for purifying drinking water and other liquids for household, medical and other purposes. A filter cartridge is filled with a filtering material and is configured in the form of an open bowl which can be closed with a lid, having side walls and a bottom with at least one outlet opening which is closed with a water-permeable material, wherein the cartridge bottom is designed such as to make it possible to use the water-permeable material which comes to the external edge of the side walls and is made of fibers with a sufficiently small diameter to allow using the filtering material containing powder particles; furthermore, the entire area between external and internal edges of the walls along the perimeter of the bottom is made of a composite based on a polymer water-permeable material.
US08778242B2	Housing for fluid dynamic bearing device Provided is a housing for a resin fluid dynamic bearing device in which deterioration with time of a fixing force for another member is mitigated and which can maintain a high bearing performance for a long period of time. The housing formed of a resin composition exhibiting a compression creep amount of 8% or less when a compressive pressure of 80 MPa is applied for 168 hours at an atmosphere temperature of 80° C., provides a sufficient fixing force for the another member fixed with a press-fitting force, for example, a bearing sleeve press-fitted into an inner periphery of the housing even after a long term use. Thus, there is no fear of fixing positions of the another member with respect to the housing being deviated and a high bearing performance is maintained for a long period of time.
US08778239B2	Particulate production method A method of producing particulate, including introducing an initial liquid including a particulate component in a lower concentration than that of a liquid including a particulate component or no concentration to a projection hole of a droplet projector so as to be projected at the start of the discharging; discharging a droplet of the liquid comprising a particulate component from the projection hole; and solidifying the droplet to form a particulate.
US08778235B2	Colorant multimer, colored curable composition, color filter and method for producing the same, and solid-state image sensor, image display device, liquid crystal display device and organic EL display with the color filter A colorant multimer includes, as a partial structure of a colorant moiety, a dipyrromethene metal complex compound or tautomer thereof obtained from: (i) a dipyrromethene compound represented by the following Formula (M); and (ii) a metal or a metal compound: wherein in Formula (M), R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent.
US08778234B2	Process for the manufacture of a high density ITO sputtering target A process for manufacturing indium tin oxide (ITO) sputtering targets as described. The process includes the precipitation of indium and tin hydroxides, sintering in the absence of chloride ions, using the resultant oxide powders to prepare an aqueous slip with dispersing agent, binder, special high density promoting agents and compacting the slip in a specially surface coated porous mold using the method of slip casting followed by sintering the resultant compacted target body to yield high density ITO target.
US08778232B2	Lead-free conductive compound for solar cell electrodes A lead-free conductive compound for a solar cell electrode including: a conductive powder; a glass frit; and a vehicle; the glass fit includes at least one kind of lead-free glass including 10 to 29 (mol %) of Bi2O3, 15 to 30 (mol %) of ZnO, 0 to 20 (mol %) of SiO2, 20 to 33 (mol %) of B2O3, and a total sum 8 to 21 (mol %) of Li2O, Na2O and K2O which are contained in a ratio with respect to a whole of a glass compound in terms of oxides.
US08778230B2	Sulphur-modified monolithic porous carbon-based material, process for the preparation thereof and uses thereof in the storage and release of energy A subject-matter of the invention is a novel process for the preparation of sulphur-modified monolithic porous carbon-based materials by impregnation with a strong sulphur-based acid, the materials capable of being obtained according to this process and the use of these materials with improved supercapacitance properties to produce electrodes intended for energy storage systems. Electrodes composed of sulphur-modified monolithic porous carbon-based materials according to the invention and lithium batteries and supercapacitors having such electrodes also form part of the invention.
US08778228B2	Method of producing ultraviolet light emitting phosphor material The present invention is a method of producing an ultraviolet light emitting phosphor material. This method includes a step of heat-treating a composition containing zinc and oxygen as main components and at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium and indium as a sub-component, in the presence of at least two coexisting substances selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, gallium oxide and phosphorus oxide under a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
US08778227B2	Organic/inorganic composite The present invention provides an organic/inorganic composite containing an inorganic phase dispersed in an organic polymer, the inorganic phase comprises one or more metal atoms that are coordinated to at least one rare earth metal atom via oxygen. The composite contains at least 5 mass % of rare earth metal. This rare earth metal is dispersed in the inorganic phase.
US08778225B2	Iodide single crystal, production process thereof, and scintillator comprising iodide single crystal An object of the invention is to provide an iodide single crystal material that provides a scintillator material for the next-generation TOF-PET, and a production process for high-quality iodide single crystal materials.The iodide single crystal material of the invention having the same crystal structure as LuI3 and activated by a luminescence center RE where RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb is characterized in that a part or the whole of lutetium (Lu) in said iodide single crystal material is substituted by Y and/or Gd.The inventive production process for an iodide single crystal material is characterized by comprising a step of preparing starting materials comprising an RE metal or REI3, I2, and a metal of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Lu, Y and Gd and/or its iodide provided that when only Lu is selected, there is a Lu metal chosen; a step of maintaining said starting materials under vacuum; a step of heating said starting materials at a reaction temperature to create a raw polycrystal material containing at least XI3:RE where X is said at least one selected element; and a step of turning said raw polycrystal material into a single crystal.
US08778224B2	Fluorescent dye-siloxane hybrid resin The present invention provides a fluorescent dye-silane hybrid resin manufactured by polycondensing an alkoxysilane bonded with a fluorescent dye with an organo-silane. More particularly, the present invention provides a fluorescent dye-siloxane hybrid resin that is manufactured by reacting a fluorescent dye having one or more functional groups with an alkoxysilane having an organic functional group to form an alkoxysilane bonded with the fluorescent dye and then polycondensing the alkoxysilane bonded with a fluorescent dye with an organo-silanediol and an organo-alkoxysilane having a thermocurable or ultraviolet-curable functional group without water. The fluorescent dye-silane hybrid resin has excellent thermostability, photostability, fluorescence characteristics, and processibility.
US08778222B2	Liquid crystalline polyester composition, method of producing the same and molded product manufactured from the same A liquid crystalline polyester composition contains at least 100 parts by weight of liquid crystalline polyester and 10 to 100 parts by weight of glass fiber, wherein the glass fiber has a weight-average fiber length of 30 to 100 μm, and content of specific glass fiber having fiber length of 300 to 500 μm is 0.1 to 5 percent by weight to a total amount of the glass fiber.
US08778211B2	GST CMP slurries The present invention provides chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) compositions suitable for polishing a substrate comprising a germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST) alloy. The CMP compositions of the present invention are aqueous slurries comprising a particulate abrasive, a water-soluble surface active agent, a complexing agent, and a corrosion inhibitor. The ionic character of the surface active material (e.g., cationic, anionic, or nonionic) is selected based on the zeta potential of the particulate abrasive. A CMP method for polishing a GST alloy-containing substrate utilizing the composition is also disclosed.
US08778210B2	Compositions and methods for the selective removal of silicon nitride Compositions useful for the selective removal of silicon nitride materials relative to poly-silicon, silicon oxide materials and/or silicide materials from a microelectronic device having same thereon. The removal compositions include fluorosilicic acid, silicic acid, and at least one organic solvent. Typical process temperatures are less than about 100° C. and typical selectivity for nitride versus oxide etch is about 200:1 to about 2000:1. Under typical process conditions, nickel-based silicides as well as titanium and tantalum nitrides are largely unaffected, and polysilicon etch rates are less than about 1 Å min−1.
US08778209B2	Apparatus and method for increasing surface area of pipes An apparatus for altering a surface of a cylindrical object includes at least one container containing a fluid resist therein and having at least one opening from which the fluid resist is discharged; at least one roller operatively associated with the at least one container and having a surface sized and shaped to be exposed to the at least one opening, the surface area including a pattern of shapes and upon which the fluid resist is deposited; and at least one support member adjacent the at least one roller for supporting the cylindrical object during transit for contacting the at least one roller. A method is also provided.
US08778203B2	Tunable polish rates by varying dissolved oxygen content A method and system for tunable removal rates and selectivity of materials during chemical-mechanical polishing using a chemical slurry or solution with increased dissolved oxygen content. The slurry can optionally include additives to improve removal rate and/or selectivity. Further selectivity can be obtained by varying the concentration and type of abrasives in the slurry, using lower operating pressure, using different pads, or using other additives in the dispersion at specific pH values.
US08778198B2	Method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive sensor using simultaneously formed hard bias and electrical lapping guide A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor using an electrical lapping guide deposited and patterned simultaneously with a hard bias structure of the sensor material. The method includes depositing a sensor material, and patterning and ion milling the sensor material to define a track width of the sensor. A magnetic, hard bias material is then deposited and a second patterning and ion milling process is performed to simultaneously define the back edge of an electrical lapping guide and a back edge of the sensor.
US08778194B2	Component having a through-connection A method is described for manufacturing a component having a through-connection. The method includes providing a substrate; forming a trench structure in the substrate, a substrate area which is completely surrounded by the trench structure being produced; forming a closing layer for closing off the trench structure, a cavity girded by the closing layer being formed in the area of the trench structure; removing substrate material from the substrate area surrounded by the closed-off trench structure; and at least partially filling the substrate area surrounded by the closed-off trench structure with a metallic material. A component having a through-connection is also described.
US08778192B2	System for dewatering granulates A method and apparatus for dewatering a mixture of granulate and water are disclosed. In accordance with one example of the system described herein, the apparatus includes a casing as well as hollow sieve body with side walls formed as a sieve, the sieve body being arranged in the casing and suspended thereto. The sieve body tapers towards the bottom, and a clearance is formed between the casing and sieve body. For delivering the granulate-water mixture an inlet is arranged in the upper part of the sieve body. A corresponding outlet for the dewatered granulate is located at the bottom of the sieve body. The inlet is arranged in the sieve body and the sieve is formed such that the water laterally escapes through the sieve into the clearance due to centrifugal and gravitational forces when passing through the sieve body from top to bottom.
US08778191B2	Filtering device and a method of filtering a fluid The invention concerns a centrifugal filtering device for filtering a fluid. The device comprises a rotatable inner casing forming an inner space and a rotatable outer casing forming an outer space. The device further comprises a fluid inlet, at least one filter and drive means. The drive means is configured to rotate the inner casing to create a centrifugal pressure. The pressure forces a part of the fluid contained in the inner space through the filter and to a radially outer position of the outer space. The filtered fluid forms a filtrate, the filtrate having a kinetic energy. The outer casing is configured to transport the filtrate from the radially outer position to a radially inner position of the outer space, permitting transfer of the kinetic energy from the filtrate to the outer casing, thereby permitting regaining of mechanical energy.
US08778190B2	Method for processing waste water loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds The invention relates to a method for purifying wastewater loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds, wherein the wastewater loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is reacted with a smectic sheet silicate, wherein a clay material loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is obtained, and the clay material loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is separated off, wherein purified wastewater is obtained.
US08778188B2	Chromatography column A chromatography column having a longitudinal axis and comprising a column wall with a first end and a second end, a first end plate assembly removably connectable to said first end of the column wall, a second end plate assembly removably connectable to said second end of the column wall, wherein said first end plate assembly, said column wall and said second end plate assembly are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the column wherein the column wall, and/or first end plate assembly and/or second end plate assembly is/are rotatable about an axis of rotation wherein said axis of rotation is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said column and positioned outside the column.
US08778187B2	Packing system and method for chromatography columns The invention relates to a system for packing chromatography columns with a chromatography medium and packing method for use in such columns. In particular, the invention relates to a method and system for packing chromatography columns which utilizes an external drive means to compress a bed of particulate medium to a target bed height.
US08778182B2	Spiral wound element and seal assembly A spiral wound element and a seal assembly comprising: a ring-shaped seal disposed about a portion of an outer periphery of the element, a secondary pathway and a valve that selectively permits fluid flow through the secondary pathway.
US08778178B2	Integrated multi-step solid/liquid separation system for Fischer-Tropsch processes A system for separating liquids from solids comprising an immobilization unit comprising an immobilization vessel containing a bed of magnetizable material and a magnet configured to produce a magnetic field within the immobilization vessel, wherein the immobilization vessel further comprises an immobilization vessel outlet and an immobilization vessel inlet for a fluid comprising liquid and metal-containing particles. A method for separating solid particles from liquid by introducing a fluid comprising liquid and a first concentration of solid particles into an immobilization unit comprising an immobilization vessel and at least one magnet configured to produce high density magnetic flux lines within the immobilization vessel and/or a high field gradient at or near the surface of the magnetizable material when powered, wherein the immobilization vessel contains therein a bed of magnetizable material; and removing from the immobilization unit a product having a second particle concentration less than the first particle concentration.
US08778176B2	Modular sand filtration—anchor system and wave energy water desalination system incorporating the same A potable water producing system for disposition at a body of salt water and a method of producing potable water is provided. The system includes a wave energy conversion system (AWECS) and a portable filtration-anchor system. The AWECS is in the form of a floating articulated barge housing a desalination system including a reverse osmosis membrane. The filtration-anchor system is submerged in the body of salt water and includes a sand filter to filter the adjacent salt water and to provide the filtered salt water to the desalination system on the articulated barge. The action of the waves on the articulated barge provides energy to pump the filtered salt water from the sand filter to the reverse osmosis member to produce potable water. Moreover, the action of the waves on the articulated barge effects the shaking of the reverse osmosis filter, thereby rendering it self-cleaning.
US08778174B2	Methods and apparatus for treating water and wastewater employing a cloth disk filter Methods and apparatus for treating water and wastewater include the step of flowing a suspended solids stream generally upward through a sludge blanket region of a cloth disk filter vessel, thus forming a partially treated effluent composition and a solids-enriched sludge blanket. The partially treated effluent composition is allowed to flow generally upward to a cloth filter zone in the vessel after contacting the sludge blanket. The methods include flowing the suspended solids stream through one or more distribution headers positioned in the sludge blanket. An option is to provide a sludge concentration zone in the sludge blanket region, allowing sludge to flow into the sludge concentration zone to form concentrated sludge. Other methods and apparatus include backwash assemblies that backwash substantially the entire filter cassette surfaces, with or without use of a sludge blanket zone. Either the backwash assemblies or filter cassettes move in the latter methods and apparatus.
US08778173B2	Process for producing a high stability desulfurized heavy oils stream The present invention relates to a process for desulfurizing heavy oil feedstreams with alkali metal compounds and improving the compatibility of the to stream components in either the feed stream, an intermediate product stream, and/or the reaction product stream in the desulfurization process. The present invention utilizes a high stability aromatic-containing stream that is preferably added to the heavy oil prior to reaction with the alkali metal compounds. The resulting stream resists precipitation of reaction solids in the desulfurization reactors. Even more preferably, the desulfurization system employs at least two desulfurization reactors in series flow wherein the high stability aromatic-containing stream is contacted with the reaction product from the first reactor prior to the second reactor, wherein the first reactor can be operated at a higher severity than without the use of the high stability aromatic-containing component stream.
US08778171B2	Hydrocracking catalysts containing stabilized aggregates of small crystallites of zeolite Y associated hydrocarbon conversion processes This invention relates to hydrocracking catalysts utilizing stabilized aggregates of small primary crystallites of zeolite Y that are clustered into larger secondary particles. At least 80% of the secondary particles may comprise at least 5 primary crystallites. The size of the primary crystallites may be at most about 0.5 micron, or at most about 0.3 micron, and the size of the secondary particles may be at least about 0.8 micron, or at least about 1.0 μm. The silica to alumina ratio of the resulting stabilized aggregated Y zeolite may be 4:1 or more. This invention also relates to the use of such catalysts in hydrocracking processes for the conversion of heavy oils into lighter fuel products. The invention is particularly suited for the selective production of diesel range products from gas oil range feedstock materials under hydrocracking conditions.
US08778170B2	Process for producing light olefins and aromatics A process for producing light olefins and aromatics, which comprises reacting a feedstock with a catalytic cracking catalyst in at least two reaction zones, wherein the reaction temperature of at least one reaction zone downstream of the first reaction zone is higher than that of the first reaction zone and its weight hourly space velocity is lower than that of the first reaction zone. The spent catalyst is separated, from the reaction product vapor, regenerated, and then returned to the reactor. The reaction product vapor is separated to obtain the desired products, light olefins and aromatics. This process efficiently produces light olefins such as propylene, ethylene, etc from heavy feedstocks, wherein the yield of propylene exceeds 20% by weight, and produces aromatics such as toluene, xylene, etc at the same time.
US08778169B2	Residue conversion process that includes a deasphalting stage and a hydroconversion stage Conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon fraction that is obtained either from a crude oil or from the distillation of a crude oil and that has an initial boiling point of at least 300° C. by hydroconversion of at least one portion of heavy hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of hydrogen in at least one three-phase reactor containing at least one hydroconversion catalyst, separation of the effluent to obtain a light liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is less than 300° C. and a heavy liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is greater than 300° C., and a deasphalting of at least one portion of the heavy liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is greater than 300° C.
US08778168B2	Systems and methods of discriminating control solution from a physiological sample Methods for distinguishing between an aqueous non-blood sample (e.g., a control solution) and a blood sample are provided herein. In one aspect, the method includes using a test strip in which multiple current transients are measured by a meter electrically connected to an electrochemical test strip. The current transients are used to determine if a sample is a blood sample or an aqueous non-blood sample based on at least two characteristics (e.g., amount of interferent present and reaction kinetics). The method can also include calculating a discrimination criteria based upon at least two characteristics. Various aspects of a system for distinguishing between a blood sample and an aqueous non-blood sample are also provided herein.
US08778167B2	Method and device for determining the location of corrosion sites in reinforced concrete The invention relates to a method for determining the location of the corrosion sites in reinforced concrete, wherein a value (UB, UC) of a voltage potential (UB, UC) present at each measurement location is measured at at least two measurement locations relative to a reference voltage potential (UA) present at a reference location, and information about the direction to the corrosion site (K) and/or the distance to the corrosion site (K) is determined from the location information (XB, YB, XC, YC) for each measurement location, particularly also the reference location, and the voltage potential (UA, UB, UC) present at each location. The invention further relates to a device for determining the location of corrosion sites in reinforced concrete, particularly according to a method according to one of the previous claims, comprising an electrode arrangement having at least one electrode that can be brought into electrolytic contact with the surface of a reinforced concrete to be tested, and that is set up for measuring voltage potentials (UB, UC) using the at least one electrode at a plurality of measurement locations relative to a reference voltage potential (UA) at the reference location of an electrode, and that is further set up for determining information about the direction to the corrosion site (K) and/or the distance to the corrosion site (K) from the location information (XB, YB, XC, YC) for each measurement location, particularly also the reference location, and the voltage potential (UA, UB, UC) present at each location.
US08778165B2	Method of forming an organic film using a gel, said gel and use thereof The invention relates to a process for forming a polymeric organic film on an electrically conductive or semiconductive surface by application of an electric potential between a gel, in contact with said surface, and said surface, the gel comprising (i) a protic solvent, (ii) compounds having colloidal properties, (iii) an adhesion primer, optionally (iv) a monomer and the potential applied being at least equal to the reduction potential of the adhesion primer. The invention also relates to said gel, to its use and to a kit for forming an organic film.
US08778164B2	Methods for producing a high temperature oxidation resistant coating on superalloy substrates and the coated superalloy substrates thereby produced Methods for producing a high temperature oxidation resistant coating on a superalloy component and the coated superalloy component produced thereby are provided. Aluminum or an aluminum alloy is applied to at least one surface of the superalloy component by electroplating in an ionic liquid aluminum plating bath to form a plated component. The plated component is heat treated at a first temperature of about 600° C. to about 650° C. and then further heat treated at a second temperature of about 700° C. to about 1050° C. for about 0.50 hours to about two hours or at a second temperature of about 750° C. to about 900° C. for about 12 to about 20 hours.
US08778162B2	Stamper and method of manufacturing the same According to one embodiment, a stamper manufacturing method comprises electroless plating by using a master includes a substrate, a conductive underlayer formed on the substrate and having catalytic activity, projecting patterns having no catalytic activity and partially formed on a surface of the conductive underlayer having catalytic activity, and regions in which the conductive underlayer having catalytic activity is exposed between the projecting patterns to deposit selectively an amorphous conductive layer between the projecting patterns and in the regions in which the conductive underlayer is exposed, and forming stamper projections, electroplating on the stamper projections includes the projecting patterns and the amorphous conductive layer by using the amorphous conductive layer and the conductive underlayer as electrodes to form a stamper main body made of a crystalline metal, and releasing a stamper includes the stamper projections and the stamper main body from the master.
US08778159B2	Separator apparatus for separating oil and water A method of separating oil and water in a flow-stream through a gravity settling vessel (10) in which the flow-stream (12) separates into a lower water layer (22) and an upper oil layer (26), includes feeding an off-take stream (34) of the oil layer and/or an emulsion layer (20) that forms between the oil layer and the water layer through a compact electrostatic coalescer (CEC) (38) that has electrically isolated electrodes. The CEC coalesces water droplets in the off-take stream, and the coalesced off-take stream is then returned to the settling vessel. An associated separator apparatus for comprises: a gravity settling vessel (10); a CEC (38) including electrically isolated electrodes; a coalescer feed line (34) configured to provide an off-take stream of an oil phase and/or an emulsion layer from the settling vessel to the CEC; and a return line (40) from the CEC for returning the off-take stream to the settling vessel.
US08778158B2	Method and device for the manipulation of particles by overlapping fields of force Methods and related devices are illustrated for generating time-variable electric fields suitable for determining the creation of closed dielectrophoretic cages able to trap inside even single particles without the cages being necessarily positioned at relative minimum points of the electric field.
US08778156B2	Electrodialytic separation of gas from aqueous carbonate and bicarbonate solutions A process for producing a gas using an electrodialysis apparatus includes flowing at least two solutions and an electrode solution into the apparatus, pressurizing the apparatus at a stack pressure, applying a voltage to the apparatus's electrodialysis stack so a dissolved gas is generated in the second solution, flowing the second solution out of the apparatus, regenerating the gas out of the second solution, and collecting the gas. A process for generating a product, like a gas, liquid, or supercritical fluid, using an electrodialysis apparatus includes flowing at least two solutions and an electrode solution into the apparatus, adjusting the temperature and pressure so the product will be generated from the second solution, applying a voltage to the electrodialysis stack of the apparatus so that the product is generated in the second solution, flowing the second solution out of the apparatus, and regenerating the product from the second solution.
US08778150B2	Magnetron sputtering cathode, magnetron sputtering apparatus, and method of manufacturing magnetic device To provide a magnetron sputtering cathode, a magnetron sputtering apparatus, and a method of manufacturing a magnetic device, capable of generating a leakage magnetic field sufficiently large to form a magnetic tunnel necessary for discharge on the surface of a target even when the target is a magnetic body and thick and a ferromagnetic body is used as the target. The magnetron sputtering cathode of the present invention includes a target having a second annular groove provided on the sputtering surface of the target, a third annular projection provided on the non-sputtering surface of the target, a fourth annular groove provided outside the third annular projection on the non-sputtering surface, and a fourth annular projection provided outside the fourth annular groove on the non-sputtering surface. Further, the magnetron sputtering cathode includes a first magnet and a second magnet 6 having a polarity different from that of the first magnet on the non-sputtering surface side.
US08778149B2	Separator for chlor-alkali electrolytic cells and method for its manufacturing The invention relates to a synthetic diaphragm for chlor-alkali cells with improved energy consumption and gas separation characteristics. The diaphragm comprises a network of polymer fibers bound to a hydrophilic ceramic material containing zirconium chemically bound to hydroxyl groups. The ceramic material is obtained starting from ZrO2 by a process of hydration under vacuum which can be carried out directly in the cell by means of suitable equipment.
US08778144B2	Method for manufacturing magnetron coated substrates and magnetron sputter source Method for manufacturing magnetron coated substrates, in which along the target and on its backside pointing from the substrate, a magnet arrangement is present by which along the sputter surface of the target at least one closed loop of a tunnel shaped magnetron magnetic field is generated, characterized in that for setting the sputter rate distribution the distance of a part of the magnet arrangement to the backside of the target is changed.
US08778142B2	Suction roll for dewatering a fibrous web A suction roll for dewatering a fibrous web, having a rotatable and perforated suction roll jacket and a suction box in the interior of the suction roll. The suction box has a first suction channel that extends in the interior of the roll essentially along the axis of the suction roll. The suction box also has a second suction channel that extends in the interior of the roll along the inner surface of the suction roll jacket and is delimited by seals. The first suction channel is connected to the second suction channel via at least one connecting channel.
US08778141B2	Hand-held apparatus for controlling the condition of a circulating band in a papermaking machine The invention relates to a hand-held apparatus for controlling the condition of a circulating band in a papermaking machine; the apparatus comprises a hand-held body which carries: a moisture measuring device, equipped with at least one microwave sensor; a permeability measuring device, comprising at least one water delivery nozzle and a flowmeter associated with the nozzle; and a control unit connected to the measuring devices for processing signals coming therefrom; the body is equipped with at least one handle portion to be grasped by an operator for manually moving and maneuvering the apparatus.
US08778139B2	Papers with a high filler material content and high dry strength A process for producing paper, board and cardboard in the presence of an aqueous slurry of components comprising finely divided fillers coated at least partly with water-soluble amphoteric copolymers, which involves adding, further to the aqueous slurry of components comprising finely divided fillers, at least one cationic and/or amphoteric polymer comprising as structural element no esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids with quaternized amino alcohols to the fiber suspension prior to sheet forming.
US08778137B2	Bulky paper with concavo-convex pattern and process for producing thereof A process for producing a bulky paper with a concavo-convex pattern includes the steps of producing a wet mixed sheet comprising high-basis-weight regions and low-basis-weight regions from a paper-making material prepared by dispersing a fiber starting material and heat-expanding particles in water, the heat-expanding particles being evenly dispersed in the fiber in the high basis-weight and low basis-weight regions; and then heating the wet mixed sheet to cause expansion of the heat-expanding particles and form a concavo-convex pattern. This allows the free designing of concavo-convex sections on bulky papers.
US08778136B2	Modified cellulose from chemical kraft fiber and methods of making and using the same A modified kraft pulp fiber with unique properties is provided. The modified fiber can be a modified bleached kraft fiber that is almost indistinguishable from its conventional counterpart, except that it has a low degree of polymerization (DP). Methods for making the modified fiber and products made from it are also provided. The method can be a one step acidic, iron catalyzed peroxide treatment process that can be incorporated into a single stage of a multi-stage bleaching process. The products can be chemical cellulose feedstocks, microcrystalline cellulose feedstocks, fluff pulps and products made from them.
US08778133B2	Method and apparatus for peeling protective tape A method of peeling a protective tape, includes the steps of mounting a wafer on a stage, the wafer having the protective tape adhered thereto so that the protective tape overlaps only a portion of a notch of the wafer, attaching a peeling adhesive tape to the protective tape, projecting a lift pin from the stage so that the portion of the protective tape which overlaps the notch is raised by a top surface of the lift pin, and with the protective tape raised by the lift pin, pulling the peeling adhesive tape so as to peel the protective tape from the wafer. The top surface of the lift pin has a shape that allows the top surface to raise the portion of the protective tape which overlaps the notch.
US08778129B2	Method for attaching a magnet on or in a rotor or stator The invention relates to a method for adhesively bonding a magnet onto the surface or into a slot of a rotor or stator of an electric motor or a generator, wherein i) the surface or surfaces to be glued of the magnet, rotor or stator are pre-coated with an adhesive that is not liquid at 22° C. and that does not cure without an activation step, iii) the magnet is brought into contact with the rotor or stator at the adhesive location, and iv) the adhesive is activated by heating or by high-energy radiation so that it cures, characterized in that the adhesive comprises a) at least one reactive epoxide prepolymer, b) at least one latent hardener for epoxies, and c) one or more elastomers. The adhesive preferably comprises a blowing agent. The invention further relates to a corresponding pre-coated magnet.
US08778128B2	Method of primerless bonding The present invention relates to methods for attaching a plastic component to another component where the plastic component is bonded to the other component with an adhesive in the absence of a primer on the plastic component and the adhesive is substantially solvent free. In one embodiment, a coated transparent or translucent polycarbonate substrate is connected to a frame with a polyurethane adhesive containing silicon in the absence of a primer on the substrate; or with a substantially solvent free adhesive. The inventions also related to bonded articles made according to the disclosed methods.
US08778126B2	Base material for artificial leather and grained artificial leather A method of producing a substrate suitable for artificial leathers. The substrate is composed of an entangled nonwoven fabric made of microfine fibers and a binder resin. At least one surface of the substrate is a densified layer which is made of the microfine fibers and which is substantially free from the binder resin. The binder resin is impregnated into a portion of the substrate other than the densified layer. The densified layer prevents the binder resin impregnated into the entangled nonwoven fabric from migrating into the surface of the entangled nonwoven fabric, thereby providing the substrate having the surface substantially free from the binder resin. The peeling strength between the substrate and a grain layer formed on the surface thereof is drastically improved because the surface of the substrate is substantially free from the binder resin.
US08778124B2	Method for making three-dimensional liquid crystal polymer multilayer circuit boards A method is for making a non-planar three-dimensional (3D) multilayered circuit board. The method may include forming a stacked arrangement including at least one pair of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) layers with a bonding layer therebetween. The stacked arrangement may further include at least one electrically conductive pattern layer on at least one of the LCP layers. The method may further include heating and applying pressure to the stacked arrangement to shape the stacked arrangement into a non-planar 3D shape and concurrently causing the bonding layer to bond together the adjacent LCP layers of the stacked arrangement to thereby form the non-planar 3D multi-layered circuit board.
US08778123B1	Carbon fiber tubular pole and method of manufacture A carbon fiber tubular pole and method of construction thereof. The pole includes a left in place lightweight mandrel, preferably formed of tubular polyvinylchloride or cardboard, which substantially reduces cost of manufacture. A socket is formed in the carbon fiber tubular pole for receiving an adjacent carbon fiber tubular pole.
US08778115B2	Mask, method of manufacturing mask and apparatus for manufacturing mask A method of efficiently manufacturing a large-sized mask is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes: 1) providing a first mask member comprising i) a first pattern unit having a plurality of slits, ii) a first buffer unit spaced apart from the first pattern unit, and iii) a first bonding unit interconnecting the first pattern unit and the first buffer unit and 2) providing a second mask member comprising i) a second pattern unit having a plurality of slits, ii) a second buffer unit spaced apart from the second pattern unit, and iii) a second bonding unit interconnecting the second pattern unit and the second buffer unit. The method may further include contacting the first bonding unit and the second bonding unit; and connecting the first mask member to the second mask member while tensile forces are applied to the first mask member and the second mask member.
US08778112B2	Method for bonding thin film piece A method for bonding a thin film piece includes: forming a support layer on each upper face of a plurality of thin film pieces; fixing the plurality of thin film pieces to a first substrate through a temporary fixing layer provided on a lower face of the first substrate so that the temporary fixing layer contacts with the upper face and at least a part of a side face of each support layer; bonding a lower face of the plurality of thin film pieces to a second substrate; and removing the first substrate from the plurality of thin film pieces by removing at least one of the support layer and the temporary fixing layer.
US08778111B2	Process for manufacturing a tyre, and tyre obtained therefrom During building of a carcass structure, a liner is applied around an outer surface of a primary drum by: circumferentially winding at least one pair of sheets of elastomeric material around an outer surface of the primary drum, which sheets are axially spaced apart from each other so as to form respective axially external portions of the liner; laying at least one continuous elongated element of elastomeric material in the form of a plurality of mutually approached coils around the outer surface of the primary drum in order to form a central portion of the liner having axially external edges that are each associated with an axially internal edge of one of said axially external portions of the liner.
US08778110B2	Method of manufacturing a composite textile A method of manufacturing a composite textile having a textile face layer and a non-woven backing layer. The textile face layer may be bonded to the non-woven backing layer using various techniques such as by providing an adhesive or adhesive material associated with at least one of the layers.
US08778106B2	Method for preparing pre-form materials A pre-form and a method of preparing pre-forms are provided. The pre-forms comprise a resin and at least two layers of oriented fiber tows. The pre-forms comprise fiber tows instead of the traditional prepregs to enhance rearranging of resin and/or fibers during subsequent processing as well as provide greater freedom, a price reduction and/or a reduction of waste. The pre-forms may be formed three-dimensionally to enhance coupling to further pre-forms or other structures and/or to enhance shaping of the pre-form to a final three-dimensional shape. The method of preparation of pre-forms involves providing an adhesive between layers of fibers and providing a resin in contact with at least one of the layers of fibers. The resin is preferably provided in a non-continuous layer to allow for removal of gas at least partially in a direction orthogonal to the layers of resin. Advantageously, during manufacturing, the fibers are placed with an exact start and ending location, thereby avoiding waste. The pre-forms are suitable for preparation of composite structures like for example spars for wind turbine blades.
US08778103B2	Energetic compositions including nitrate esters and articles including such energetic compositions Methods of forming energetic compositions include forming a premix comprising a nitrate ester, a polymer, and a stabilizer, and combining solids with the premix. Additional stabilizer may be added with the solids and may remain in a crystalline state. Some methods include dissolving a stabilizer in at least one of a plurality of nitrate esters. Energetic compositions include a continuous matrix and a stabilizer. The continuous matrix includes a nitrate ester and surrounds a solid energetic material. Some compositions include a first nitrate ester, a second nitrate ester having a decomposition rate lower than the first nitrate ester, and a stabilizer. An article includes a housing and an energetic composition in the housing.
US08778100B2	Magnetic strip, sensor comprising a magnetic strip and process for the manufacture of a magnetic strip The invention relates to a magnetic strip, wherein the strip has a magnetic easy axis which is axially parallel to a transverse axis of the strip. The strip is cut to length, from strip material made of a semi-hard magnetic crystalline alloy, along a transverse axis of the strip material substantially corresponding to a length (l) of the strip. The strip material has a magnetic easy axis which runs axially parallel to the transverse axis of the strip material.
US08778098B2	Method for producing high strength aluminum alloy powder containing L12 intermetallic dispersoids A method for producing high strength aluminum alloy powder containing L12 intermetallic dispersoids uses high pressure gas atomization to effect cooling rates in excess of 103° C./second.
US08778095B2	Method of manufacturing grain-oriented electrical steel sheet In a method of manufacturing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet including a nitriding treatment (step S7) and adopting so-called “low-temperature slab heating”, the finish temperature of finish rolling in hot rolling (step S2) is set to 950° C. or below, the cooling is started within 2 seconds after completion of the finish rolling, and a steel strip is coiled at 700° C. or below. The cooling rate over the duration from the end of finish rolling to the start of coiling is set to 10° C./sec or above. In annealing (step S3) of the hot-rolled steel strip, the heating rate in the temperature range from 800° C. to 1000° C. is set to 5° C./sec or above.
US08778092B2	Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method and storage medium There is provided a substrate processing method including cleaning a substrate by immersing the substrate in a cleaning solution in a longitudinal direction while the cleaning solution is supplied to a cleaning tank; transferring the substrate picked up from the cleaning tank to a drying chamber while holding the substrate in a longitudinal direction; and drying the substrate in the drying chamber communicating with an upper area of the cleaning tank by alternately supplying a first drying gas containing vapor of a solvent for removing a liquid and a second drying gas without containing the vapor of the solvent for removing the liquid to an area where the substrate is exposed between the upper area of the cleaning tank and the drying chamber after an upper end of the cleaned substrate is picked up from a liquid surface of the cleaning solution.
US08778088B2	Foreign matter removal device, foreign matter removal method and foreign matter removal system A foreign matter removal device 10 preliminary cleans the work 50 in a bucket 12 housed in an input tank 15, then further cleans the work 50 in buckets 13, 14 housed in cleaning tanks 16, 17 by agitating cleaning liquid while inverting the buckets to transfer the work to a subsequent bucket. Particularly, the bottom of the cleaning tank is formed such that the nearer to a center of the bottom, the deeper the bottom becomes. The cleaning liquid overflowing from the cleaning tanks are stored in auxiliary tanks 22, 23. First and second ejection units 29a, 29b are arranged at different heights in the cleaning tank to generate a circulating flow in the cleaning liquid.
US08778086B2	Method of cleaning residue from a surface using a high efficiency disposable cellulosic wiper A method of cleaning residue from a surface using a disposable cellulosic wiper that includes from about 25% or more by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers. The pulp-derived papermaking fibers have a characteristic scattering coefficient of less than 50 m2/kg. The wiper also has from about 25% to about 75% by weight of fibrillated regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers. The fibers are finer than 14 mesh, have a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml, have a number average diameter of less than about 2 microns, and are present in amounts such that the wiper exhibits a scattering coefficient of greater than 50 m2/kg. The wiper is applied, with a predetermined amount of pressure, to a residue-bearing surface. The surface is wiped with the applied wiper to remove residue from the surface, such that the surface has less than 1 g/m2 of residue after being wiped.
US08778084B2	Method and apparatus for treating a cellulosic feedstock A method and apparatus for treating a cellulosic feedstock, such as for subsequent ethanol production, are disclosed. The method comprises determining an initial moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock and adding an amount of moisture to the cellulosic feedstock to obtain a predetermined moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock, wherein the cellulosic feedstock may subsequently be subjected to hydrolysis. The apparatus comprises a moisture sensor that provides an initial moisture content reading of the cellulosic feedstock, and a weight sensor providing the weight of the cellulosic feedstock. A processor is configured to determine an amount of moisture to be added to the cellulosic feedstock based on the weight and the initial moisture content of the cellulosic feedstock to obtain treated cellulosic feedstock having a predetermined moisture content.
US08778082B2	Point source assembly for thin film deposition devices and thin film deposition devices employing the same A point source assembly for a thin film deposition device having a chamber for holding a substrate, includes a crucible configured for holding and vaporizing a deposition material therein, where the crucible is configured for operative engagement to the chamber, an opening in the crucible configured for directing therefrom a vaporized form of the deposition material, where the opening includes a longitudinal line extending through the center of the crucible opening, and means operatively engaged to the crucible for facilitating rotational movement of the crucible for varying the orientation of the longitudinal line relative to the position of the substrate in the chamber.
US08778081B2	Process and hardware for deposition of complex thin-film alloys over large areas Systems and methods for depositing complex thin-film alloys on substrates are provided. In particular, systems and methods for the deposition of thin-film Cd1-xMxTe ternary alloys on substrates using a stacked-source sublimation system are provided, where M is a metal such as Mg, Zn, Mn, and Cu.
US08778080B2	Apparatus for double-plasma graft polymerization at atmospheric pressure Disclosed is an atmospheric-pressure double-plasma graft polymerization apparatus. The apparatus includes a workbench, an initial roller of a roll-to-roll device, an atmospheric-pressure plasma activation device, a peroxide formation device, a coating and grafting device, a drying device, a graft polymerization and curing device, a curing device and a final roller of a roll-to-roll device. The devices are sequentially provided on the workbench.
US08778072B2	Ink composition, recording method, and recorded article An ink composition contains a dye whose free acid is expressed by formula (1), lithium ions, and an aromatic compound having a carboxy group. In formula (1), Q represents a halogen atom, x represents an integer of 2 to 4, and y represents an integer of 1 to 3.
US08778071B2	Inkjet ink set, image forming method using same, and print formed by the image forming method An inkjet ink set including at least a black ink, a cyan ink, a magenta ink, and a yellow ink. Each of the inks includes at least a water-soluble dye, water and a water-soluble solvent including a specific alkoxypropionamide compound. The cyan, magenta and yellow inks has a S/W ratio of not less than 1.5 and not greater than 3.5, wherein S represents the content of the water-soluble solvent in each ink, and W represents the content of water in each ink, and the black ink has a S/W ratio of not less than 1.0 and less than 1.5, wherein S represents the content of the water-soluble solvent in the black ink, and W represents the content of water in the black ink.
US08778069B2	Phase change inks containing oligomeric rosin esters Disclosed is a phase change ink comprising an ink carrier which comprises a crystalline component and an amorphous rosin ester. In specific embodiments, the crystalline component can be a trans-cinnamic diester, a diester of tartaric acid, or a diurethane. In specific embodiments, the ink exhibits a peak melting point of no more than about 150° C., an onset crystallization temperature of no less than about 60° C., a melt viscosity within the temperature range of from about 100° C. to about 130° C. of from about 5 cps to about 22 cps, a peak solidification viscosity at about 50° C. of no less than about 1×106 cps, and a hardness at about 25° C. of at least about 70.
US08778067B1	Emission filtration, monitoring and notification system An adaptable emission filtration, monitoring, and notification system for emission sources within a civic infrastructure has a filter housing with filtration media located inside. The system has a control system with a filter intake sensor, a filter discharge sensor, a microprocessor, a power source, and a transmitter. The system has a civic reception system located in a geographically bound area of interest, with a receiver. The filter housing intake side is attached to an emission source discharge opening. The filtration media filters toxic emissions from the gas stream. The microprocessor compares the signal from the filter intake sensor and the filter discharge sensor then sends a resultant signal by way of a transmitter to the receiver of the civic reception system upon detected decreased efficiency of the filtration media.
US08778066B2	Vacuum pump exhaust pipe of chemical vapor deposition apparatus and relevant vacuum pump Disclosed is a vacuum pump exhaust pipe of a chemical vapor deposition apparatus, wherein two ports of the vacuum pump exhaust pipe are respectively connected to a vacuum pump outlet and a scrubber, and anti-sticking inner pipes are installed inside the exhaust pipe and closely contacted with inner walls of the exhaust pipe. The present invention also relates to a vacuum pump of the chemical vapor deposition apparatus. Blockage hardly occurs in the vacuum pump exhaust pipe of the chemical vapor deposition apparatus and the relevant vacuum pump according to the present invention to solve problems of the easily found blockage in the exhaust pipe, wasting the manpower and the time for clearing the exhaust pipe and the effect to the uptime of the chemical vapor deposition apparatus in the prior arts.
US08778064B2	Green house gases filtration system A filtration system for filtering gas may comprise a liquid pump, wherein the liquid pump may be configured to pump liquid. The system may also include a spray nozzle, wherein the spray nozzle may be in fluid communication with the liquid pump. The spray nozzle may be configured to spray liquid on a gas stream; wherein the spray nozzle may be configured to spray horizontally. The system further includes a liquid collection basin, disposed near the spray nozzle, wherein the liquid collection basin may be configured to collect liquid after spraying on a gas stream. The system may additionally include a plurality of condensation drips disposed along a top of the liquid filter configured to condense any liquid which may evaporate during filtration and returns the condensed liquid to the chambers for filtration. The system may be a closed system, enabling liquid to be recycled throughout the system.
US08778057B2	Gas-adsorption device structure and method for using same Includes gas adsorption device (1) in which gas adsorbent (3) is decompression-sealed by first package (4) with poor gas permeability, and second package (2) with poor gas permeability. Second package (2) is at least partially flexible. Air that is a gas that gas adsorbent (3) can adsorb is filled between gas adsorption device (1) and second package (2). In this configuration, gas adsorbent (3) adsorbs air when first package (4) is damaged, and thus a pressure inside second package (2) reduces. Due to this pressure reduction, the shape or dimension of second package (2) changes. Any damage to first package (4), i.e., any degradation in adsorption capacity of gas adsorption device (1), can thus be determined by confirming this change.
US08778055B2	High pressure liquid degassing membrane contactors and methods of manufacturing and use In accordance with at least selected embodiments of the present invention, an improved liquid degassing membrane contactor or module includes a high pressure housing and at least one degassing cartridge therein. It may be preferred that the high pressure housing is a standard, ASME certified, reverse osmosis (RO) or water purification pressure housing or vessel (made of, for example, polypropylene, polycarbonate, stainless steel, corrosion resistant filament wound fiberglass reinforced epoxy tubing, with pressure ratings of, for example, 150, 250, 300, 400, or 600 psi, and with, for example 4 or 6 ports, and an end cap at each end) and that the degassing cartridge is a self-contained, hollow-fiber membrane cartridge adapted to fit in the RO high pressure housing.
US08778048B2	Biochemical humic acid product prepared from kitchen waste and the method of preparing the same The present invention discloses a new resource processing method of kitchen waste, in particular, provides a method of preparing biochemical humic acid from kitchen waste and biochemical humic acid product prepared therefrom. The kitchen waste treated by technical solution of the present invention has a high conversion rate of organic matter, reaching over 90%. Meanwhile, the biochemical humic acid product prepared by the invention is nutritious, the amount of the total humic acid, free humic acid and water soluble humic acid in the product reach up to 38-42%, 35-40% and 14-16%, respectively; it contains not only the major elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but also the trace elements such as zinc, iron and manganese as well as other active substances. Thus the product is suitable for fertilizer in agricultural production.
US08778045B2	Cellular ceramic articles with coated channels and methods for making the same Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.
US08778044B2	Compact filter element The invention relates to a compact filter element (1) for exchangeable use in a filter housing (2). The compact filter element (1) has a filter body (3) with a longitudinal axis (7) and at least one seal (4) arranged in the area of a front end (5) of the filter body (3), the seal having a seal section (8) which is arranged across the width (10) of a housing wall (6), sealing same. The seal section (8) projects beyond a front surface (12) of the filter body (3) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (7). The seal section (8) has a peripheral support wall (9) and at least one seal lip (17) integrally bonded to the outside of the support wall (9), across the width (10) of the latter, wherein the support wall (9) and the seal lip (17) consist of a rubber elastic material.
US08778043B2	Filter elements; air cleaner; assembly; and, methods A filter cartridge, a safety element and fluid cleaner assembly are described. The fluid cleaner assembly generally includes a housing having a cover and a primary fluid cleaner section. The filter cartridge generally comprises z-filter media, arranged in a straight through configuration. Preferred cartridges include a seal gasket positioned to extend continuously around at outer perimeter of the straight through flow construction. The fluid cleaner assembly can have a precleaner positioned therein. Preferred features are described. Methods of assembly and use are also provided.
US08778037B2	Process of scrubbing volatiles from evaporator water vapor A process is provided where a waste stream is directed to an evaporator that produces a vapor having volatile compounds. The vapor including the volatile compounds is directed through a vapor scrubber that contacts the volatile compounds with a scratching solution. The scrubbing solution reacts with the gaseous volatile compounds in the vapor such that the volatile compounds pass from a vapor state into the scrubbing solution and form volatile compounds in the liquid scrubbing solution. The scrubbing solution is collected and recycled.
US08778035B2	Process for the selective production of hydrocarbon based fuels from algae utilizing water at subcritical conditions Disclosed herein is the production of hydrocarbon based fuel from micro-organisms and algae that comprise algaenan without requiring prior removal of water, as well as the production of hydrocarbon based fuel directly from the algaenan itself. Also disclosed herein are feed material for the processes disclosed herein comprising modified algae and algaenan that selectively produce hydrocarbon of desired chain lengths, along with the process of modifying the algae and algaenan. Also disclosed herein is the production of both hydrocarbon and organic fertilizer from algae without the need to remove the water from the algae prior to processing.
US08778031B1	Limb prosthesis Disclosed are limb prostheses for use when normal use of the lower leg is temporarily or permanently lost due to lower leg injury or disease, including below-knee amputation. Disclosed prostheses provide full body weight support and allow a wearer to maintain the use of the hands and arms during ambulation. In addition, a wearer can maintain use of their own knee to flex and extend during ambulation, thereby better controlling the prosthesis during motion and providing a more normal gait as compared to previously known devices. In the event of permanent loss of the lower leg due to below-knee amputation, the disclosed prosthesis provides an alternative to socket-type prosthetic devices.
US08778029B2	Implantable prosthesis for replacing a human hip or knee joint and the adjoining bone sections For replacing a human hip or knee joint and the adjoining bone sections, an implantable prosthesis is provided, comprising a joint replacement part (10), a shaft replacement part (12) and a rod-shaped shaft anchoring part (16) being insertable into an axial cavity (14) in the shaft replacement part (12).
US08778026B2	Artificial SI joint An artificial SI-Joint includes a sacrum component and an ilium component. The sacrum component may include a ridge, foundation, perimeter surface and a fitting member. The ilium component may include a polybearing, edge, foundation, perimeter surface, and a ridge or sockets. The fitting member of the sacrum component may engage the polybearing of the ilium component to restore normal movement of the SI-Joint. The artificial SI-Joint may be implanted as a single unit or as separate pieces that are coupled together.
US08778025B2	Rotatable cam lift for an expandable bone cage The present invention is a rotatable cam lift. The distal end of the rotatable cam lift has a plurality of cam lift lobes and nesting surfaces that allow an expandable bone cage to be expanded with maximum control and predictability of expansion and which hold the bone cage firmly in position when expanded. Cam lift edges prevent over-rotation of the cam lift.
US08778021B2	Post-operative adjustment tool, minimally invasive attachment apparatus, and adjustable tricuspid ring An implantable device system for controlling the dimensions of internal anatomic passages corrects physiologic dysfunctions resulting from a structural lumen which is either too large or too small. Implantable devices are disclosed which employ various mechanisms for adjusting and maintaining the size of an orifice to which they are attached. Systems permit the implants to be implanted using minimally invasive procedures and permit final adjustments to the dimensions of the implants after the resumption of normal flow of anatomic fluids in situ.
US08778019B2	Staged deployment devices and method for transcatheter heart valve delivery A delivery device for a collapsible heart valve includes an operating handle and a catheter assembly. The operating handle includes a frame defining a movement space therein, a carriage assembly moveable in a longitudinal direction within the movement space, and a coupler having locked and unlocked conditions, the coupler being operatively connected to the carriage assembly for movement therewith. The catheter assembly includes a shaft around which a valve-receiving compartment is defined, the shaft being operatively connected to one of the frame or the carriage assembly, and a distal sheath operatively connected to the carriage assembly for movement therewith between a closed condition adapted to maintain the valve in the compartment and an open condition adapted to fully deploy the valve.
US08778014B1	Coatings for preventing balloon damage to polymer coated stents A medical assembly is disclosed comprises a stent and a catheter having a balloon, wherein the coefficient of friction and/or the adhesion at the stent/balloon interface are reduced.
US08778009B2	Intravascular stent A stent design reduces the likelihood of contact among structural members when the stent diameter is reduced before insertion into the body. In one approach, an undulating link has a J-shaped profile or has an angled portion on one side at the peak of the link, in order to reduce contact during crimping. The stent may also include structural features that improve such aspects as flexibility, the coatibility of a drug coating onto the stent, flare reduction, stent retention within the body and/or reduction of the minimum diameter of the stent during crimping.
US08778008B2	Intravascular deliverable stent for reinforcement of vascular abnormalities A catheter deliverable stent/graft especially designed to be used in a minimally invasive surgical procedure for treating a variety of vascular conditions such as aneurysms, stenotic lesions and saphenous vein grafts, comprises an innermost tubular structure and at least one further tubular member in coaxial arrangement. In one embodiment, the innermost tubular structure is of a length (L1) and is formed by braiding a relatively few strands of highly elastic metallic alloy. The pick and pitch of the braid are such as to provide relative large fenestrations in the tubular wall that permit blood flow through the wall and provide the primary radial support structure. A portion of the innermost tubular structure of a length L1 is surrounded by a further braided tubular structure having relatively many strands that substantially inhibit blood flow through the fenestrations of the innermost tubular structure. The composite structure can be stretched to reduce the outer diameter of the stent/graft, allowing it to be drawn into a lumen of a delivery catheter. The catheter can then be advanced through the vascular system to the site of treatment and then released, allowing it to self-expand against the vessel wall. Various optional embodiments are disclosed that allow one skilled in the art to tailor the design to the specific application.
US08778004B2	Therapeutic device A therapeutic device includes an elastomeric outer shell configured as a human hand and defining an interior area, the outer shell having a finger end opposite a wrist end. The device includes a pocket in the interior area, the pocket being defined by an inner wall. An endplate is coupled to the outer shell and coupled to the inner wall to define a closed area between the outer shell and pocket, the endplate having an opening for allowing access to the pocket. A fill material is positioned in the closed area. The device includes a vibrating unit removably positioned in the pocket through the endplate opening, the vibrating unit having a lock complementary to a catch to couple the vibrating unit to the endplate, the vibrating unit having a vibrating motor in electrical communication with a power source and a switch.
US08778002B2	Methods of light treatment of wounds to reduce scar formation A method of reducing scar formation associated with a skin wound includes providing an electromagnetic energy source, delivering energy from the electromagnetic energy source to opposing edges of a skin wound, and sealing the wound after delivering the energy. The electromagnetic energy source can include a laser, such as a fractional laser, including a fractional CO2 laser. Handpieces configured to reduce scar formation include one or more of a tissue eversion system, a medication delivery system, and a wound sealing system.
US08778000B2	Orthopedic plate, orthopedic device, method of coupling bone segments, and method of assembling an orthopedic plate An orthopedic plate comprising, a frame portion and a bearing rotatably coupled with the frame portion, wherein the bearing defines an opening configured to receive a fastener for fastening the orthopedic plate to a body, wherein the bearing includes an outer surface that is eccentric to the opening such that a position of the opening with respect to the frame portion is adjustable as the bearing rotates.
US08777997B2	Method for securing vertebrae A method of fixing vertebrae of a patient together at a surgical site includes the following steps: inserting a first cannula (10) into the body (130) of the patient; moving a first fastener (624) through the cannula (10) and securing the first fastener (624) to a first vertebrae (601); moving a second fastener (624) through the cannula (10) and securing the second fastener (624) to a second vertebrae (602); moving a first fixation element (650) through the cannula (10); and fixing the first fixation element (650) to the first and second fasteners (624).
US08777987B2	Self-retaining sutures including tissue retainers having improved strength An embodiment of a suture for use in a surgical procedure applied to tissue comprises an elongated body having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of retainers arranged along a portion of the elongated body. The retainers substantially yield to motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the first end and resist motion of the elongated within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the second end. The retainers include an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface extending from a periphery of the elongated body and the lower surface having at least two facets.
US08777985B2	Closure devices, related delivery methods and tools, and related methods of use A device for sealing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the heart is provided. The device includes a left atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a left atrium of the heart, a right atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a right atrium of the heart, and an elongate member adapted to extend through the passageway and connect the left and right atrial anchors. The right atrial anchor preferably includes a plurality of arms and a cover attached to the arms. The left atrial anchor also includes a plurality of arms and preferably does not include a cover. Preferably, the elongate member has a first end of fixedly connected to the left atrial anchor and a portion, proximal to the first end, releasably connected to the right atrial anchor. Preferably, the elongate member is flexible.
US08777983B2	Defect-closure device and delivery apparatus Provided is a defect-closure device which is surely retainable in a predetermined position to close a passage-like defect in a living body. The device may have a free enlargement-contraction first member mounted so as to close an opening at the one end of the defect; and a free enlargement-contraction second member having a protruded member, which extends from a joint part jointed to the first member, and protrudes from an opening at the other end in an axis direction of the defect. The first member is elastically contacted to the opening by elastically contacting a protrusion part of a second member to the inner surface of an edge of the opening.
US08777982B2	Device for achieving hemostasis A device configured to apply a compressive force to a patient's skin at the site of a wound to assist in hemostasis. The device includes a footplate configured to adhere to the patient's skin, a receiving device positioned on the footplate, a plunger positioned within the receiving device and configured to move through both the receiving device and the footplate such that a downward force applied on the plunger toward the patient's skin results in the plunger moving through the receiving device and the footplate until the plunger contacts the patient's skin, and the plurality of motion restricting components interposed between the receiving device and the plunger, the plurality of motion restricting components configured such that as the plunger moves toward the skin movement of the plunger away from the skin is restricted until the restricting components are released.
US08777979B2	System and method for mechanically positioning intravascular implants Intravascular implant delivery systems and methods are described. One such system carries an implant by retaining an engagement member engaging the implant in a position proximal of an aperture at a distal end of the delivery system. The engagement member is retained proximal to the aperture by a cord that obstructs the movement of the engagement member through the aperture. The engagement member is free to rotate and move within an area defined by the delivery system, allowing the implant to react to forces imparted to the implant by the movement of the delivery system and implant through a delivery catheter. Once the implant is in a desired implant position, the cord is moved away from an aperture and the engagement member is allowed to move away from the delivery system.
US08777977B2	Self-centering catheter and method of using same A self-centering central access catheter includes a multi-lumen catheter body, a first port associated with a first lumen, and a second port associated with a second lumen. The first and second ports are disposed proximate a distal end of the multi-lumen catheter. A diametrically expansible member is circumferentially coupled to a multi-lumen catheter body and positioned intermediate the first port and the second port. The diametrically expansible member comprises a first portion that is immovably fixed to the multi-lumen catheter body and a second portion that is movably coupled to the multi-lumen catheter body.
US08777975B2	Embolus blood clot filter with bio-resorbable coated filter members A blood clot filter includes a number of locator members and anchor members, each of the members tipped with a retainer encompassed within bio-resorbable cover material. Upon delivery into a blood vessel, the locator and anchor members position the filter near the vessel centerline. After a period of time, the bio-resorbable cover material resorbs, allowing the retainer on the members to penetrate and attach to the vessel wall. A method of implanting the filter includes delivering the filter into a blood vessel and allowing the bio-resorbable cover material to resorb so retainers on the members can engage the vessel walls.
US08777968B2	System, apparatus and method for fastening tissue A tissue fastening device includes a suture clip holder and a suture cutter. A suture clip can be releasably secured to the suture clip holder, and a suture line or lines can pass through the clip and adjacent the suture cutter. A first movement of a control handle causes the suture clip to be released from the suture clip holder, and a second movement of the control handle causes the suture cutter to cut the suture line or lines. The first movement is different from the second movement. The first movement can be rotational, with the second movement being longitudinal. Alternatively, the first movement can be longitudinal, with the second movement being rotational. The device may include a main body, an inner body, and an outer body.
US08777964B2	Suture and ligature device for medical treatment A ligature device for medical treatment has an operating device that has a ligature tool for medical treatment fitted onto a distal end portion thereof. The operating device is provided with a cutting member that is able to move freely backwards and forwards and is used to cut a ligature wire of the ligature tool for medical treatment. A distal end side of the cutting member has an inclined end portion that is inclined relative to the direction of forward and backward movement, and a blade portion is provided in this inclined end portion.
US08777963B2	Method and system for destroying of undesirable formations in mammalian body A method and a system for destruction of an undesirable formation in a mammalian body are described. The invention is based on inserting a probe into mammalian body; said probe is electrically connectable to a control unit and upon bringing the probe in physical contact with the formation supplying pulses of energy from the control unit to the probe in order to destroy the formation. The invention further comprises counting amount of pulses being supplied to the probe and establishing a remaining service life of the probe by subtracting the amount of pulses being supplied to the probe from an amount of pulses corresponding to initial service life of the probe. The treatment session is automatically terminates as soon as amount of pulses being supplied to the probe approaches at least a fraction of the established remaining service life of the probe. The established remaining service life of the probe is stored for new treatment session. Delivery of pulses automatically terminates when the remaining service life is exhausted and use of such probe becomes impossible.
US08777960B2	Interlock driving instrument An interlock driving instrument is configured to be releasably lockable to a fastener, such as a bone anchor. A bone anchor can be locked to the interlock driving instrument by inserting an expandable distal end of the shaft of the interlock driving instrument into the driving opening of the bone anchor and expanding the distal end within the driving opening by translating an expansion member into the expandable distal end. Alternatively, the bone anchor can be locked to the interlock driving instrument by inserting the distal end of the shaft of the interlock driving instrument into the driving opening of the bone anchor and translating a sliding member along a sloped surface defined in a channel extending into the shaft.
US08777959B2	Intervertebral disc and insertion methods therefor A method of inserting an intervertebral disc implant into a disc space includes accessing a spinal segment having a first vertebral body, a second vertebral body and a disc space between the first and second vertebral bodies. The method includes securing a first pin to the first vertebral body and a second pin to the second vertebral body, using the first and second pins for distracting the disc space, and providing an inserter holding the intervertebral disc implant. The method also desirably includes engaging the inserter with the first and second pins, and advancing the inserter toward the disc space for inserting the intervertebral disc implant into the disc space, whereby the first and second pins align and guide the inserter toward the disc space.
US08777953B1	Rocker mechanism An orthopedic instrument designed to engage a rod within a fixation element during a surgical procedure is described. The present invention has a distal end portion designed to hold a fixation element such as a pedicle screw while the rod is positioned within the fixation element. The instrument comprises a series of arms which form the grasping and handle portions of the device.
US08777952B2	Device for use in surgical treatment of funnel chest and method of treatment A device (1) for use in the surgical treatment of a patient suffering from funnel chest characterized in that it comprises a plate adapted to be fitted underneath the skin of the patient, and further characterized in that, in use, said plate can be attached to the patient's sternum and the curvature, length and width of the plate being such that the plate extends on both sides of the sternum and on the outside of the patient's thorax and is supported by the ribs to hold up the sternum.
US08777946B2	Anatomically customized and mobilizing external support, method for manufacture The present invention relates to an anatomically personalized and mobilizing external support, a method for manufacturing is, as well as the use of a component of an invasively attached external support in determining the path of the joint being supported. In the method according to the invention, the kinetic dynamics of the joint are measured with the aid of a component of an external support invasively attached to two bone groups, on the basis of which an external support is arranged between the bone groups.
US08777944B2	Medical tool for reduced penetration force with feedback means A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators, including piezoelectric, voice coil, solenoids, pneumatics or fluidics. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, electrical power to the reciprocating actuator is automatically terminated. One exemplary method for detecting this passage is via a fluid-containing syringe that is coupled to a channel within the penetrating member. Once the penetrating member tip has passed through the living tissue, the fluid within the syringe no longer experiences any pressure and a plunger within the syringe displaces indicating passage of the penetrating member tip. This motion can provide direct tactile feedback to an operator of the medical device or can automatically open a switch providing electrical power to the medical device. Alternatively, a pressure transducer can also monitor the pressure within the penetrating member channel and automatically activate the switch to cut off the electrical power.
US08777942B2	Apparatus, systems, and methods for achieving intravascular, thermally-induced renal neuromodulation Apparatus, systems, and methods for achieving thermally-induced renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver a thermal element to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.
US08777940B2	System and method for providing even heat distribution and cooling return pads A return pad for use with an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a conductive layer, a contact layer configured to engage a patient's skin and an intermediate layer disposed between the conductive layer and the contact layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to distribute energy.
US08777937B2	Catheter for magnetic resonance-supporting interventional procedures A catheter for magnetic resonance-supported interventional procedures has an electric cable that connects a first electric component attached to one catheter end with a second electric component attached to the other catheter end, with the electric cable being coiled at least in sections thereof.
US08777935B2	Optical sensor and method for identifying the presence of skin A sensor for detecting the presence of skin is disclosed, one configuration of which uses multiple light emitting diodes, each of a unique wavelength band, and a broad-band photodetector to measure the remission of light at multiple wavelengths from a material being analyzed. Characteristics of the spectral remission of the material are used to discriminate human skin from materials that are not human skin. Further, an aesthetic medical device utilizing such a sensor in which the device is inhibited from operation if skin has not been detected. The incorporation of a skin sensor improves the safety of devices that emit radiation that otherwise would pose a hazard if not directed onto skin.
US08777934B1	Balancer swivel arm assembly A balancer swivel arm assembly includes an articulated arm configured to be pivotably attached to a work station at a proximal end. A linear slider is slidably mounted on a distal end of the articulated arm. A spring balancer is mounted on the distal end of the articulated arm and is coupled to the linear slider. The spring balancer is configured to support the linear slider and a tool mounted to the linear slider through a linear range of motion along an axis.
US08777933B2	Respiratory secretion retention device, system and method A novel and non-obvious apparatus, system, and method for managing respiratory secretions and fluids in sections of artificial airways. In an embodiment of the invention, a respiratory secretion retention (RSR) device configured to fluidly connect to an artificial airway can be provided. The respiratory secretion retention (RSR) device can include a housing that defines a passageway for the flow of respiratory gases, a chamber defined by the housing with a portion of the chamber configured to retain exhaled respiratory particulate and liquid, a patient side port coupled with the housing, which is in fluid communication with an artificial airway and at least one access port coupled with the housing were the at least one access port includes a control valve. In an aspect of this embodiment, the housing further can include an instillation port.
US08777930B2	Discriminating oral-tip adaptor An adaptor for discriminating connection of an oral tip of a source of liquid enteral product to a feeding line. In one embodiment, the adaptor includes an internal stop in the body having a contact surface that is angled with respect to a transverse plane extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connection port so that if the standard luer tip is inserted into the connection port, the luer tip does not make flush contact with the contact surface. In another embodiment, the adaptor includes an external stop surrounding the connection port generally adjacent to the first open end of the body. The adaptor may include an umbrella valve. In other embodiments, the adaptor includes a fluid release opening in fluid communication with the connection port extending generally radially through the adaptor body at a location spaced from the longitudinal ends of the body.
US08777926B2	Apparatus and methods for dilating and modifying ostia of paranasal sinuses and other intranasel or paranasal structures Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat.
US08777925B2	Methods relating to infusion device The disclosures made herein relate to an infusion device specifically adapted for syringe injections. In one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, an infusion device comprises a body including an accessible surface having a single inlet port therein, an engagement surface having a single outlet port therein, a medication delivery channel extending between the single inlet port and the single outlet port, and an identification feature on the accessible surface of the body adjacent to the single inlet port. The single inlet port of the medication delivery channel is tapered thereby forming a funnel-shaped entry into the medication delivery channel. A cannula is coupled to the body at the single outlet port and is adapted for receiving medication from the single outlet port and transmitting the medication therethrough.
US08777924B2	Apparatus and method for controlling insulin infusion with state variable feedback An infusion system, which may be a closed loop, or “semi-closed-loop”, infusion system, uses state variable feedback to control the rate at which fluid is infused into a user's body. The closed loop system includes a sensor system, a controller, and a delivery system. The “semi-closed-loop” system further includes prompts that provide indications to the user prior to fluid delivery. The sensor system includes a sensor for monitoring a condition of the user and produces a sensor signal which is representative of the user's condition. The delivery system infuses a fluid into the user at a rate dictated by the commands from the controller. The system may use three state variables, e.g., subcutaneous insulin concentration, plasma insulin concentration, and insulin effect, and corresponding gains, to calculate an additional amount of fluid to be infused with a bolus and to be removed from the basal delivery of the fluid.
US08777922B2	Multi-chamber container It is an object of the resent invention to provide a multi-chamber container that has a weak seal portion having an increased joining strength and being easy to be opened when in administration of medicine, and that is provided at low cost. The multi-chamber container includes a medicine accommodation chamber 1, a diluting solution chamber 3 jointed to one side of the medicine accommodation chamber 1 via a partitioning weak seal portion 2, an unoccupied chamber 5 having a port 6 and joined to an opposite side of the medicine accommodation chamber 1 via a discharging weak seal portion 4, a film member 7 attached to the medicine accommodation chamber 1 for increasing a joining strength of each of the discharging weak seal portion 2 and the discharging weak seal portion 4, the discharging weak seal portion 4 having an easy-to-open portion 8 that enables the discharging weak seal portion 4 to easily opened therethrough.
US08777918B2	Disposable absorbent wearing article A disposable absorbent wearing article constructed with an absorbent core that may be deformed to form absorbent barriers against body waste and thereby an absorbent chassis that includes the absorbent core may be kept in contact with the wearer's torso with good fitness to improve appearance of the article put on the wearer's body and to prevent leak of body waste. The disposable absorbent wearing article comprising an absorbent chassis and an annular elasticized waist panel wherein the absorbent core of the absorbent chassis is formed with deformation guides so that at least opposite lateral regions of said absorbent core may be deformed along the deformation guides toward the wearer's torso under elastic contraction of at least a front waist panel constituting the annular waist panel.
US08777915B2	Reusable diapers having seam allowances A reusable diaper may include an inner layer to wick moisture and an outer layer substantially impervious to liquids. A waist portion may include a corner region for securing the diaper in a desired position. The corner region may be resiliently stretchable and substantially impervious to liquids, and may include first and second layers coupled to the respective inner and outer layers. The coupled first layer and inner layer define a first seam allowance, and the coupled second layer and outer layer define a second seam allowance. The first and second seam allowances may be positioned within the corner region to help inhibit wicking of liquid through the seam allowances into the corner region. And a fluid-resistant region may be provided to help resist wicking of moisture through the inner layer past the fluid-resistant region.
US08777911B2	Wound dressing of continuous fibers A method for treating a wound that includes incorporating a wound dressing comprising a plurality of fibers, each fiber having a length of at least two (2) inches, into a wound to cause the walls of the wound to remain apart and allow the wound to heal from the inside to the outside, and removing the wound exudate.
US08777909B2	Medical connector with closeable male luer A luer connector comprising a housing with a hollow bore having first and second ends, a male luer tip, and a tapering interior surface. The luer connector also comprises a rigid valve member having a first opened end and a second closed end, a passageway therein, and an outwardly extending flange near the second end adapted to seal the hollow bore at the second end of the housing when in contact with an interior surface of the housing. The valve member further comprises an opening near the closed end of the valve member extending outward from the passageway through the valve member and at least one strut attached to the valve member. The luer connector also comprises a retaining member configured to couple the valve member and the housing and a sealing element disposed within the housing to inhibit fluid communication through the hollow bore of the housing.
US08777908B2	Medical connector with closeable male luer A luer connector including a housing with first end including a male luer tip and a second end. The connector further includes a rigid valve member having a first opened end and a second closed end and a retaining member configured to couple the valve member and the housing. The housing further includes a rigid conduit positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the second end of the housing, the rigid conduit adapted to engage the first opened end of the valve member. The housing defines a first internal volume when the valve member is in a first position and a second, smaller volume when the valve member is in a second position.
US08777907B2	Medicament delivery device Medicament delivery device comprising: a first housing part (12) having a container holder (14) into which a medicament container (16) can be placed and wherein the container has a front opening with or for a delivery member for delivering the medicament therethrough and a movable stopper (17); a second housing part (38) arranged to be moved between a closed position and an open position in relation to said first housing part (12); a plunger rod (48) having a front end and a rear end, and wherein said plunger rod is arranged parallel beside said container holder when the second housing part is in its closed position; wherein the second housing part comprises resiliently displacement means (50, 52) wherein one of the resiliently displacement means (50) is fixedly connected to said plunger rod, such that when said second housing part (38) is moved from its closed position to its open position, the plunger rod (48) is moved by said resiliently displacement means into a position where the front end of the plunger rod is facing the stopper (17).
US08777906B1	Syringe with inspection window Syringes and methods of using are described which protect materials within the syringe barrel cavity from contaminants and photo-chemical degradation. A syringe is provided having an inspection window for viewing medications or other materials within the cavity of a syringe barrel. The syringe barrel and other syringe components may be colored, opaque, darkened, amber, tinted; or the syringe barrel may have applied thereto polarizing filters; or materials having light polarizing properties can be used to manufacture the syringe barrel and other syringe components of the syringe to cancel particular components of light.
US08777901B2	Infusion pumps Ambulatory infusion pumps, pump assemblies, cartridges, baseplates, cannulas, insertion tools, and related components as well as combinations thereof and related methods.
US08777900B2	Ambulatory enteral feeding system There is provided a venting system for enteral feeding having a reflux bag in fluid communication with an enteral feeding site on a patient. The bag has a vent that relieves enteral pressure from the patient and is located within a bellows that compresses the reflux bag after the vent relieves. The system does not rely on gravity to urge the liquid in the reflux bag back to the patient so it may be used by sleeping patients who change positions. It may also be placed in a backpack so that the patient may be freed from having to remain seated or prone for long periods of time and can instead lead a more normal lifestyle.
US08777898B2	Medical devices having releasable coupling This invention is directed to a medical device with a handle and a catheter. The handle can include a body having a proximal end and a distal end, an actuator moveably coupled to the body, and a handle control member coupled to the actuator, wherein the actuator can be configured to move relative to the body to move the handle control member. The catheter can include a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the body can be configured for releasable coupling. The catheter can also include a steering section located along the shaft and a catheter control member coupled to the steering section. A securing member may move relative to at least one of the handle and the catheter to releasably couple the handle control member to the catheter control member.
US08777895B2	System and method for authorized medication delivery A system and method for verifying identification of an authorized person by biometrics prior to a patient controlled analgesic medication delivery to the patient and for monitoring the delivery of medication to a patient is disclosed, along with a monitoring system and method for controlling medication delivery based on at least one monitored patient condition.
US08777892B2	Portable peritoneal dialysis system A portable peritoneal dialysis system for a patient includes an inlet port for providing inflow to the patient's peritoneal cavity, an outlet port for providing outflow from the patient's peritoneal cavity, and a volume of dialysate for flow into and out of the patient's peritoneal cavity, thereby removing from the dialysate uremic waste metabolites that have diffused into the dialysate. The portable peritoneal dialysis system also includes a closed liquid flow loop, including a pump, for flowing the dialysate into and out of the patient's peritoneal cavity, and an organic- and phosphate-removing stage, including at least one replaceable cartridge in the closed liquid flow loop, the cartridge containing material for removing organic compounds and phosphate from dialysate removed from the patient's peritoneal cavity. The portable peritoneal dialysis system further includes a urea- and ammonia-removing stage, including at least one replaceable cartridge in the closed liquid flow loop, the cartridge containing material for removing urea and ammonia from dialysate removed from the patient's peritoneal cavity, the material being packed around semi-permeable hollow fibers with interior fiber walls that reject cations, thereby retaining cations in the dialysate.
US08777891B2	Apparatus and methods for early stage peritonitis detection and for in vivo testing of bodily fluid The invention provides, inter alia, automated medical methods and apparatus that test PD effluent in a flow path (e.g., with an APD system or CAPD setup) to detect, for example, the onset of peritonitis, based on optical characteristics of the effluent resolved at cellular scales of distance. For example, according to one aspect of the invention, an APD machine includes, in an effluent flow path, apparatus for early stage peritonitis detection comprising an illumination source and a detector. The source is arranged to illuminate peritoneal effluent in a chamber that forms part of the flow path, and the detector is arranged to detect illuminant scattered by the effluent. The detector detects that reflected or scattered illuminant at a cellular scale of resolution, e.g., on a scale such that separate cellular-sized biological (or other) components in the effluent can be distinguished from one another based on scattering events detected by the detector. Other aspects of the invention provide automated medical testing methods and apparatus that detect the onset of peritonitis and other bodily conditions by testing fluids in the body in vivo, e.g., the patient's peritoneum. Such apparatus and methods utilize a first fiber optic bundle to carry illuminant from a source of the type described above into a bodily organ or cavity, and a second fiber optic bundle to carry illuminant scattered by fluid in that organ or cavity to a detector as described above.
US08777890B2	Device for liquid medical substance venous administration A method for administering a liquid medical substance in a vein. The method comprises inserting a plurality of tubular ducts into a target venous lumen, conducting a liquid medical substance via at least one of the plurality of tubular ducts (106, 215, 419, 602) for the administering thereof toward a venous wall (110, 410) at the target venous lumen in an ejection pressure, quantity and direction, and withdrawing a residue of the liquid medical substance from the target venous lumen, in a suction pressure, quantity and direction, for the conducting thereof via at least one different of the plurality of tubular ducts (130, 240, 400). A relation between the ejection pressure, quantity and direction and the suction pressure, quantity and direction limits the extent of the administering within the venous lumen to a predefined space.
US08777889B2	Apparatus and method for administering a therapeutic agent into tissue An apparatus for administering a therapeutic is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a syringe having a barrel and a plunger and having an ozone generator associated therewith. The generator is initiated and a therapeutic gas is accumulated within the barrel, at which point it can be delivered from the barrel into a target site via a needle, thereby delivering therapeutic effects to that target site.
US08777888B2	Method of applying a liquid or powder in a body cavity in a living body A method of applying a liquid or powder in a body cavity of a living body involves positioning the distal portion of an applicator in the living body, using an applicator that includes an outer tube and a nozzle having an elongated nozzle main body and a nozzle head at the distal end side of the nozzle main body. The method also includes relatively moving the outer tube and the nozzle so a curved section of the nozzle main body moves proximally relative to the outer tube and enters the outer tube to adjust the direction in which the nozzle is facing, conveying the liquid/powder through the nozzle main body and to the nozzle head, expelling the liquid or the powder from the nozzle head toward a surface in the body cavity, and discharging gas in the body cavity into a longitudinally extending gap and to outside the body cavity.
US08777885B2	Wrist support device An apparatus for supporting a patient's hand, wrist, and at least a portion of the forearm in order to expose the radial artery to receive an arterial line. The apparatus including a substantially flexible, unitary body adapted to underlie the posterior of the patient's hand, wrist and forearm. The unitary body including a forward portion having an upturned cutout portion for receiving finger portions of a patient's hand. The forward portion configured for mating engagement with the posterior surface of the hand. The unitary body further including a rear portion sloping downward from the forward portion and having an upturned cutout portion for receiving a forearm portion of a patient.
US08777881B2	Handheld massage device A handheld massage device includes an actuator mechanism and a massage unit received in an outer housing. The actuator includes a motor, a bearing and a tilting piece having a first shaft coupled with the motor and a second shaft fitted into the bearing. The crank-shaped first and second shafts do not lie on a straight line. The massage unit has a base plate and massage elements mounted on the base plate. The massage elements protrude from one end of the outer housing. The bearing is fitted in the base plate. Because the first and second shafts form an angle therebetween, the base plate is tilted and swings like a conical pendulum. Therefore, the massage elements on the base plate move back and forth along a direction of an axle of the motor, thereby providing kneading and percussion massages on the user's body.
US08777880B2	Force-multiplying percussor and self-applicator system for airway clearance An airway clearance combines a force multiplying percussor and a self-applicator assembly. The percussor has an anvil, a hammer, a coil, and a pulse generator. The anvil has a force receiving surface and a force delivering surface. The hammer also has a force-receiving surface and a force-delivering surface, and is attached to the anvil such that the hammer's force delivering surface and the anvil's force receiving surface are mechanically free to come together or move apart. When energized with an electrical current, the coil forces the hammer's force delivering surface and the anvil's force receiving surface to separate. The pulse generator supplies pulses of electrical current to the coil.
US08777875B2	System and method for manufacturing arthroplasty jigs having improved mating accuracy Disclosed herein is a method of defining a mating surface in a first side of an arthroplasty jig. The mating surface is configured to matingly receive and contact a corresponding patient surface including at least one of a bone surface and a cartilage surface. The first side is oriented towards the patient surface when the mating surface matingly receives and contacts the patient surface. The method may include: a) identifying a contour line associated with the patient surface as represented in a medical image; b) evaluating via an algorithm the adequacy of the contour line for defining a portion of the mating surface associated with the contour line; c) modifying the contour line if the contour line is deemed inadequate; and d) employing the modified contour line to define the portion of the mating surface associated with the contour line.
US08777871B2	Medical tool for reduced penetration force with feedback means A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators, including piezoelectric, voice coil, solenoids, pneumatics or fluidics. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, electrical power to the reciprocating actuator is automatically terminated. One exemplary method for detecting this passage is via a fluid-containing syringe that is coupled to a channel within the penetrating member. Once the penetrating member tip has passed through the living tissue, the fluid within the syringe no longer experiences any pressure and a plunger within the syringe displaces indicating passage of the penetrating member tip. This motion can provide direct tactile feedback to an operator of the medical device or can automatically open a switch providing electrical power to the medical device. Alternatively, a pressure transducer can also monitor the pressure within the penetrating member channel and automatically activate the switch to cut off the electrical power.
US08777869B2	Systems, methods and products for diagnostic hearing assessments distributed via the use of a computer network The systems, methods and associated devices performing diagnostic hearing tests which use a computer network to allow interaction between a test administration site and one or a plurality of remote patient sites. The test can be administered by an audiologist or clinician at a site remote from the patient, in a manner, which can allow interaction between the user and the clinician during at least a portion of the administration of the test. The diagnostic hearing tests can be performed such that they meet standardized guidelines such as ANSI requirements or certification standards and can include distortion product emission level measurements or middle ear compliance measurements.
US08777867B2	Detection of oximetry sensor sites based on waveform characteristics In accordance with an embodiment of the present technique, there is provided methods and systems for detecting the location of a sensor and determining calibration algorithms and/or coefficients for calculation of physiological parameters based on the detected location. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving a signal corresponding to absorption of at least one wavelength of light by a patient's tissue, generating a plethysmographic waveform from the signal, determining an identifying characteristic of the plethysmographic waveform, and determining a location of the sensor based on a comparison of the identifying characteristic with at least one defined criterion.
US08777866B2	Pulse rate counting device, pulse rate counting method, and record medium therefor A pulse rate counting device includes: a short-term average value calculation unit for calculating an average interval of predetermined previous pulses; a fluctuation amount calculation device for calculating the amount of fluctuation on the basis of the difference between the average interval and an actual pulse wave interval; a search range determination unit for calculating the width of the search range, calculating an amount of displacement on the basis of a time change of the average interval, and determining as a search range a range including an appearance prediction value of the next detection point calculated from the average interval and indicated by the width of the search range from a starting point determined on the basis of the amount of displacement; and a pulse wave interval detection unit for detecting the detection point in the determined search range, and outputting a pulse wave interval.
US08777863B2	Implantable medical device with internal piezoelectric energy harvesting Methods, systems, and apparatus for powering and/or recharging medical devices implanted within the body are described. An illustrative power generation module disposable within the interior space of an implantable medical device includes a module body that defines an interior cavity as well as a flexible diaphragm that spans the interior cavity. The flexible diaphragm includes a first electrical conductor, a piezoelectric layer disposed adjacent to the first electrical conductor, and a second electrical conductor disposed adjacent to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is configured to displace within the interior cavity and generate a voltage differential between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor.
US08777860B2	Method for evaluation of renal vascular perfusion using power doppler ultrasonography A method for evaluation of renal perfusion with power Doppler ultrasonography is disclosed in the present invention. Serial renal vascular images at different vascular areas including the whole vascular tree, interlobar, arcuate, and interlobular vessels were captured. Imaging processing software was designed to analyze the changes of power Doppler intensity of colored pixels within regions of interest (ROI). Power Doppler Vascularity index (PDVI) has been defined as the percentage of vascular perfusion within a region of interest (ROI). The renal vascular perfusion index (RVPI) is defined as the maximal power Doppler vascular index divided by minimal power Doppler vascular index (PDVImax/PDVImin) among the serial images. The mean of weighted power Doppler vascular index (WPDVImean) is defined as the average of the intensity of color pixels among the ROI within the serial images. By using the RVPI and WPDVImean, a more dynamic sense of vascular perfusion and a novel approach for the evaluation of renal vascular function in clinical practice can be provided.
US08777858B2	Non-invasive treatment of fascia Various methods and devices for minimally invasive treatment and prevention of conditions of the fascia are provided. In one aspect, a method includes providing an acoustic wave source effective to deliver a focused acoustic wave to a target site within a patient's body, and focusing an acoustic wave through a patient's skin such that at least one location in the patient's fascia is fenestrated in a desired pattern.
US08777854B2	Method and system for ultrasound based automated detection, quantification and tracking of pathologies An automated method for detecting a disease state is presented. The method includes identifying a bone surface in one or more image data sets, wherein the one or more data sets correspond to a region of interest in an object of interest. Furthermore, the method includes segmenting a joint capsule region corresponding to the one or more image data sets based on a corresponding identified bone surface. In addition, the method includes analyzing the segmented joint capsule region to identify the disease state. Systems and non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform the automated method for detecting a disease state are also presented.
US08777851B2	Congestive heart failure monitor and ventilation measuring implant An implanted device-implemented method of detecting and monitoring congestive heart failure in a patient includes performing ongoing measurements of changes in local impedance of a portion of the patient's body between at least two electrodes on the exterior of the implanted device, the changes representing ventilation of the patient, and including measuring the patient's respiratory rate and respiratory amplitude. A body-implantable device is adapted to detect and monitor congestive heart failure in a patient, and includes a circuit module coupled to plural surface electrodes of the device arranged and adapted, when the device is implanted, for contacting tissue in a portion of the patient's body generally occupied by the lungs, to monitor changes in local impedance of said body portion, and to detect the patient's EKG.
US08777849B2	Expandable thoracic access port A surgical access assembly includes a body having first and second body members. Each body member has an opposed side and an outer side. The body members are coupled to one another by a connector and are moveable with respect to one another between an approximated position and a spread position wherein the opposed sides are flexed outwardly and apart from one another to define a passageway therebetween. A flexible membrane is coupled to the first and second body members and extends therefrom such that translating the flexible membrane radially outwardly moves the body members from the approximated position to the spread position.
US08777848B2	Glottiscope A Glottiscope for assisting with the insertion of an endotracheal tube or an Eschman like stylet into a patient is claimed. The Glottiscope comprises a blade which defines an internal passage for receiving an endotracheal tube or an Eschman like stylet, the blade having a proximal end and a distal end and means for viewing the patient's glottis, wherein the viewing means is disposed at the distal end and in use, below the point of emergence of an endotracheal tube or a stylet/guide (to rail road the endotracheal tube) in the internal passage to provide a view of the patient's glottis, the blade being adapted to direct the viewing means towards the center of the patient's glottis.
US08777846B2	Endoscopic imaging device An endoscopic imaging device for endoscopy in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises an annular illumination tube comprising an annular illumination fiber for illuminating a body vessel during endoscopy. The device further includes a first imaging tube comprising a first imaging fiber for gross examination and navigation through the body vessel. The first imaging fiber is disposed within the annular illumination tube. The device further comprises a second imaging tube comprising a second imaging fiber for cellular imaging. The second illumination fiber is disposed adjacent the first imaging tube and within the annular illumination tube.
US08777845B2	Endoscope A distal end portion successively provided from an insertion part distal end of an endoscope is provided with an air supply and water supply nozzle, an observation window, and illumination windows, and are formed with mutually parallel first and second flat surfaces. The surface of the observation window is disposed at the same position as the second flat surface. An inclined surface that connects the first flat surface and the second flat surface together is formed at a position that faces the air supply and water supply nozzle. Fluid guide surfaces are formed on both sides of the inclined surface. The fluid guide surfaces incline toward the illumination windows. A fluid jetted from the air supply and water supply nozzle impacts against the inclined surface, spreads to the observation window, and is guided to the fluid guide surfaces, and flows to the illumination windows.
US08777839B2	Shock absorbing mechanism and medical instrument A shock-absorbing mechanism includes a shaft having a linear member wound therearound, a base having a relative position fixed to a first end of the linear member and formed with a shock-absorbing space which spreads toward the radial outside from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a passage formed in the base in communication with the shock-absorbing space and the outside of the base and causing a second end of the linear member to extend to the outside of the base.
US08777837B2	Surgical articles and methods for treating pelvic Described are devices, implants, insertion tools, combinations, and associated methods, that involve placement of a self-fixating tip at tissue of the pelvic region, wherein an insertion tool includes one or more of an aperture for engaging a guide and an extension guard, the method optionally allowing for initial placement of a self-fixating tip at tissue of the pelvic region and adjustment of the location of the self-fixating tip.
US08777833B2	Heart assist device utilising aortic deformation The present invention relates to providing counter-pulsation heart assist by deforming the aorta. In a preferred embodiment, the deformation pressure is applied by cyclically, preferably in synchrony with the diastolic period of the heart. The deformation pressure may be applied to the outer wall of the aorta or to a patch covering a resected opening in the wall of the aorta.
US08777828B2	Method and system for creating co-layer surface adhesive rule A co-layer surface-adhesive rule (SAR) that has a pre-defined cross-section profile. The co-layer surface-adhesive rule (SAR) has two or more layers, wherein at least one layer is made from flexible material and wherein at least two layers differ one from the other.
US08777826B2	Plastic bag making apparatus Plastic bags are successively made by intermittently feeding upper and lower panel material webs that are temporarily fixed to side gusset material layers. The webs are joined along a joint line. One web is folded along a first line spaced from the joint line to open the webs and form a surface on the webs. One gusset layer is folded along the first line to open the gusset layers along with an auxiliary gusset portion and form a surface on the layers of the auxiliary gusset portion. One web is turned along a turned line formed between the joint line and the first line to make a turned portion formed in one web and superimposed on the surfaces. The other web is folded along a second line spaced from the joint line to make a folded portion in the other web and superposed on the surfaces.
US08777822B2	Exercise device for use in a doorway including resistance bands extending from slidable carriages An exercise device for use in a doorway including resistance bands extending from slidable carriages is provided. The exercise device includes a pair of vertical rail members attachable to sides of a doorway. The vertical rail members are engageable with carriages such that the carriages are capable of being slid longitudinally along the vertical rail members. Resistance bands extend along the vertical rail members and extend out from the carriages. The tension in the resistance bands may be altered by manipulating the distance between the carriages. The resistance bands extending from the carriages are attachable at each end to an athletic accessory such as a hand grip, belt, or crossbar. A pull-up bar may also be attached to the exercise device, the pull-up bar capable of vibration for enhanced performance.
US08777820B2	Adjustable weight asssembly for weight training machine An adjustable weight assembly includes a weight device and an adjustment device. The weight device includes a rail, a movable member and multiple weights. The movable member is connected to a rod and receives a force applied by a force applying unit so as to move along the rail. The rod has multiple through holes and each weight has a latitude hole and a longitudinal hole. Each latitude hole has a pin extending therethrough and the rod extends through the longitudinal holes. The adjustable device includes a driving unit, a movable part and multiple pivotal members. The driving unit drives the movable part and each weight is pivotably connected to one of the pivotal members. When the movable part moves along the rail, the pivotal member is pivoted to decide the engagement between the pin and the through hole so that the user can adjust the number of the weights.
US08777818B1	Training device A training device for use in the various martial arts and other competitive sports that responds to a person using the training device. A torso sits on a base, a head is attached to the torso, arms are attached to the torso, and legs may be attached to the torso. Sensors on the torso, head, arms and legs communicate with means for moving the head, torso, arms and legs. A means for controlling the movement of the components can be programmed to move the components in response to, or independently of, the actions of a user of the device.
US08777816B2	Bar grip A bar grip used for grasping a bar or similarly shaped object for physical fitness such as a weightlifting bar, barbell, pull-up bar, or rowing paddle that requires significant grip force. The palm portion of the bar grip includes a palm surface for contacting a region of the palm, and a grip surface for contacting the fitness device. It may include at least one middle layer to provide additional padding, comfort, or weight distribution. The bar grip also has a strap portion for securing the palm portion to the hand. The palm portion has a cross-sectional C-shape that substantially matches an outer shape of a fitness bar. Different embodiments have different radii to accommodate differently sized or shaped fitness bars, or have built-in multi-radius options. The arc of the grip surface may vary to provide coverage ranging from minimal coverage to nearly complete coverage around the circumference of the bar.
US08777815B2	Multi-sensor monitoring of athletic performance Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
US08777813B2	Method of controlling double clutch transmission of vehicle A method of controlling a DCT (double clutch transmission) of a vehicle to conduct a series of downshifting operations from a preceding gear to a subsequent gear via a current gear in response to deceleration of the vehicle may include slip-controlling, continuously, a clutch which has been in an engaged state in the preceding gear, at least until a shift gear of the subsequent gear is engaged, wherein the slip-controlling includes maintaining the engaged state of the clutch with the current gear.
US08777811B2	Vehicular shift control device A vehicular shift control device is provided that controls the input rotational speed of a geared transmission by adjusting the rotational speed of a drive source at downshift of the geared transmission. The greater the deceleration of the vehicle, the smaller is set the change gradient of the input rotational speed of the geared transmission. Therefore, even if the decrease rate of the post-shifting synchronization rotational speed is great, the incident angle γ of the input rotational speed of the geared transmission relative to the post-shifting synchronization rotational speed is maintained as a large angle. Even when the deceleration of the vehicle during downshift is great, the downshift is smoothly executed without producing an excessive synchronization shock.
US08777809B2	Method for operating a transmission unit of a vehicle driveline with an engine A method for operating a transmission of a vehicle drivetrain. A transmission ratio can be automatically changed during an operating state depending on a comparison of current operating state parameters with operating parameters stored in a control unit, and can be manually changed depending on a driver's request. Accordingly when the driver requests a change of the transmission ratio, the transmission ratio changes, and a timer starts. If the driver continues the ratio change from an actual transmission ratio value toward a larger or smaller transmission ratio value, the current operating parameters are compared with the stored operating parameters. Upon this comparison, the transmission shifts to higher ratios in comparison to the operating parameters stored in a control device at higher vehicle speeds, and/or a delay between sequential, cyclical transmission ratio changes varies depending on a vehicle deceleration and/or braking pressure in the region of a vehicle brake.
US08777806B2	Drivetrain for a parallel hybrid vehicle A drivetrain (1) for a parallel hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (3) and a transmission (4). The engine (2) and the electric machine (3) interact with a common input shaft (5) of the transmission (4). At least one axle of the vehicle can be driven by the internal combustion engine (2) and/or the electric machine (3) via an output shaft (6) of the transmission (4). A clutch (7) is between the internal combustion engine (2) and electric machine (3) and can open to decouple the internal combustion engine (2) from the input shaft (5) of the transmission (4). The clutch (7) has a first element (8) for positive locking connection of the electric machine (3) to the internal combustion engine (2) and a second element (9) for frictional locking connection of the electric machine (3) to the internal combustion engine (2).
US08777798B2	Ten-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08777797B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include three clutches and three brakes actuatable in combinations of three to establish each of ten forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio.
US08777791B1	Bicycle drive unit A bicycle drive unit includes a motor, a crank axle, a torque combining mechanism, and a clutch mechanism. The crank axle is rotatable about a first rotational axis. The torque combining mechanism is operatively coupled to the motor and the crank axle. The torque combining mechanism has a sprocket mounting portion that is configured to be operatively attached to a sprocket such that the sprocket rotates about a second rotational axis of the sprocket in a first direction as the crank axle rotates about the first rotational axis in the first direction. The clutch mechanism is operatively disposed between the crank axle and the sprocket. The clutch mechanism is configured to rotate the sprocket about the second rotational axis in a second direction as the crank axle rotates about the first rotational axis in the second direction. The second direction is opposite the first direction.
US08777789B2	Split axis transmission hybrid system architecture A split-axis transmission hybrid system may include two planetary gear sets to provide two parallel torque paths from an input axis to an output axis. A secondary power source may be coupled to either the input axis or the output axis to provide torque to the system. Thus, the split-axis transmission hybrid system may provide the ratio preselection capability and the low power losses of a dual-clutch transmission and the ratio-changing control and smoothness of a traditional powershift automatic transmission, while also providing the improved efficiency and enhanced drivability of a hybrid power source arrangement.
US08777788B2	Bicycle component positioning device A bicycle component positioning device includes a fixed member, an operating member and a positioning mechanism. The operating member has an input portion and an output portion. The positioning mechanism is operatively disposed between the operating member and the fixed member. The positioning mechanism includes a positioning member that is movable between a first position in which the positioning member is engaged with the fixed member and a second position in which the positioning member is disengaged from the fixed member. The positioning member is held in engagement with the fixed member in the first position by the input portion when the input portion is in an operating position. The positioning member is movable from the first position to the second position upon movement of the input portion from at least one of the operating positions.
US08777787B2	Sport ball A sport ball may include a casing, an intermediate layer, and a bladder. In manufacturing the sport ball, a panel element of the casing and the bladder may be located in a mold, and a polymer foam material of the intermediate layer may be injected into an area between the bladder and the panel element. In addition, edges of panel element may be heatbonded to each other to join the panel elements and form seams of the casing.
US08777786B1	Lighted nock A lighted nock device includes a nock body, the nock activation collar, a nock housing and LED/battery assembly. The nock body includes a first plurality of radially arrayed teeth and a plurality of gaps defined between the teeth. The nock activation collar is disposed adjacent the first plurality of teeth. The collar includes a second plurality of radially arrayed teeth projecting longitudinally outwards towards the first plurality of teeth. The second plurality of teeth are configured to interleave with the first plurality of teeth in a first rotational position when the second plurality of teeth are rotationally aligned with the gaps between the first plurality of teeth. The second plurality of teeth are configured to abut the first plurality of teeth in a second rotational position when the second plurality of teeth are rotationally aligned with the first plurality of teeth.
US08777784B2	Soccer goal retainer A Soccer Goal Retainer includes a bar rotatably mounted in an enclosure. A clamp plate includes a lower member attachable to the bar. A vertical member extends at right angles from the lower member and an upper member extends from the vertical member generally at right angles. A lip extends generally at right angles from the upper member. With the vertical member generally positioned vertically, the lip, the upper member and vertical member are placed over the rear rail of a soccer goal and the clamp plate is secured to the bar. The clamp plate is released from the rear rail by loosening the clamp plate from the bar. The clamp plate and the bar are then rotated in a forward manner and downwardly into the enclosure. A cover is placed over the enclosure both when the clamp plate is in use and when it is being stored.
US08777780B2	Golf ball A golf ball 2 includes a spherical core 4, an envelope layer 6 positioned outside the core 4, a mid layer 8 positioned outside the envelope layer 6, a reinforcing layer 10 positioned outside the mid layer 8, and a cover 12 positioned outside the reinforcing layer 10. The mid layer 8 has a thickness Tm less than 1.0 mm. The envelope layer 6 has a Shore D hardness Hs of 60 or greater. The mid layer 8 has a Shore D hardness Hm of 50 or greater and 65 or less. The cover 12 has a Shore D hardness Hc less than 40. The golf ball 2 satisfies that Hs>Hm>Hc. The principal components of the base materials of the envelope layer 6, the mid layer 8 and the cover 12 are an ionomer resin, an ionomer resin and a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, respectively.
US08777779B2	Golf ball A golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid layer 6, and a cover 8. The core 4 includes a center 10 and an envelope layer 12. The ratio of the volume Ve of the core 4 to the volume of a phantom sphere of the golf ball 2 is equal to greater than 76%. The ratio (Co/Do) of an amount of compressive deformation Co of the center 10 to the diameter Do of the center 10 is equal to or greater than 0.085 but equal to or less than 0.130. The ratio (Ce/De) of an amount of compressive deformation Ce of the core 4 to the diameter De of the core 4 is equal to or greater than 0.015 but equal to or less than 0.020.
US08777778B2	Golf club heads with apertures and methods to manufacture golf club heads Embodiments of golf club heads with apertures and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08777773B2	Golf club head having trip step feature A golf club incorporating a trip step feature located on the crown section. The benefits associated with the reduction in aerodynamic drag force associated with the trip step may be applied to drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids. A portion of the trip step is located between a crown apex and the back of the club head and may be continuous or discontinuous. The trip step enables a reduction in the aerodynamic drag force exerted on the golf club by forcing the air passing over the club head from laminar flow to turbulent flow prior to the natural separation point of the airstream from the crown. This selectively engineered transition from laminar to turbulent flow over the crown section slightly increases the skin friction but results in less aerodynamic drag than if the air were to detach from the crown section at the natural separation point.
US08777770B2	Golf club A golf club 2 is provided with a head 4, a shaft 6, a grip 8, a head cavity body 10 mounted to the head, a grip cavity body 40 mounted to the grip 8, a head weight 12 attachable to/detachable from the head cavity body 10, and a grip weight 12 attachable to/detachable from the grip cavity body 40. A material of the grip cavity body is a polymer. A material of the head cavity body is a polymer. Preferably, the head weight 12 is attachable to/detachable from the grip cavity body 40. Preferably, the grip weight 12 is attachable to/detachable from the head cavity body 40. Preferably, in the golf club 2, a club mass can be adjusted without substantially changing a club balance.
US08777762B2	Mobile cabin and subset for the reception and the transport of at least one passenger, and recreational facility using the same A motorized driving device drives the counterweight between balancing positions for balancing the cabin around a predetermined angular orientation of the cabin relative to the horizontal, by gravity of the whole formed by the cabin together with a possible load in this cabin.
US08777761B2	Composite tubeshaft to metallic interface A composite tubeshaft comprising a composite substrate defined by a first surface and a second surface; and a metallic substrate having at least two teeth. The teeth of the metallic substrate engage the composite substrate such that at least one tooth is positioned over the first surface and at least one tooth is positioned over the second surface.
US08777760B2	Device for torque transmission, especially for an air-conditioning compressor The device for torque transmission between a drive pulley (1) and a shaft (2) comprises a coupling flange (4) rotationally driven by the pulley and a hub fitted at the shaft end and rotationally joined to the shaft, with torque limitation means fitted between the coupling flange (4) and the hub (3), characterized in that the torque limitation means comprise a friction ring (28) comprising a plurality of projecting elastic portions in friction contact with a surface of the coupling flange (4) and/or of the hub (3).
US08777758B2	System and method for monitoring a computing environment A computer system includes an enclosure having a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and an environment monitoring system therein. The enclosure environment monitoring system includes a temperature sensor, and an air quality sensor. The computer system also has an indicator responsive to certain conditions being sensed.
US08777754B1	Providing offers for sales of combinations of virtual items at discounted prices A method of providing offers for sales of combinations of virtual items at discounted prices is disclosed. An offer is generated for a sale of a combination of virtual items at a discounted price. The offer for the sale of the combination of virtual items at the discounted price is presented to a user. The presenting suggests to the user that the combination of virtual items is randomly selected from a set of virtual items and the discounted price is randomly selected from a set of discounted prices, the presenting of the offer being performed by a processor. However, in actuality, the combination of virtual items or the discounted price may not be selected randomly.
US08777751B2	Semi-synchronous multi-participant application updates Individual participants in a multi-participant collaborative computing application may be sent intermittent updates of actions taken by other participants. These updates need not be sent to a participant's device until the participant has interacted with a specified object in the application. The participant's device may then be sent an update including object interactions of the other participants occurring since the participant's previous object interaction. The update may be used to periodically inform the participant of the actions taken by the other participants during the period between the participant's interactions.
US08777749B1	Gaming system and method of operation A system for conducting gaming includes at least one gaming machine communicating with an award server. Optionally, the gaming machine communicates with the award server via a network server. In an optional embodiment, the gaming machine includes a bonus selection apparatus with a bonus award display. Bonus award indicia are transmitted from the award server to the bonus selection apparatus, optionally via the gaming machine, for display at the bonus display. A game is conducted at the gaming machine. A determination is made whether a bonus trigger has occurred. In an optional embodiment, the bonus trigger is random; in another optional embodiment, the bonus trigger is based on the outcome of the game. A displayed bonus award indicium is selected in response to a bonus trigger and the bonus award associated with the selected bonus award indicium is issued.
US08777742B2	Game device, control method for a game device, and non-transitory information storage medium A game device in which a first comparison unit compares an exemplary model posture (posture that is supposed to be adopted by a player) at a reference time and a posture of the player indicated by posture data acquired by a posture data acquiring unit at a compared time. A second comparison unit executes at least one of: a comparison between a different posture from the exemplary model posture at the reference time and the posture of the player indicated by the posture data acquired at the compared time; and a comparison between the exemplary model posture at the reference time and a different posture from the posture of the player indicated by the posture data acquired at the compared time. An output control unit causes an output based on a comparison between results from the first and second comparison units.
US08777741B2	Illumination device An illumination device is capable of receiving a signal from a display control device for displaying an image on a display screen. The illumination device includes a reception portion and a lighting portion. The reception portion receives a control signal from the display control device. The lighting portion emits a plurality of rays of visible light each having an elongated cross section in accordance with the control signal received by the reception portion. For example, the rays of visible light are shed on a wall surface behind the display screen.
US08777740B2	Gaming device display and methods of use A gaming apparatus having a housing defining a display area on which immoveable display characters and moveable symbol displays are used to present a game outcome, is disclosed. Typically, the immoveable display characters provide background for the moveable symbol displays. A controller is used to cause movement of the moveable symbol displays so that at least one symbol corresponding to the game outcome is displayed. A method of playing a game using the aforementioned gaming apparatus is also disclosed.
US08777734B2	Gaming machine On a lower image display panel 141, a game result of rearranged of symbols 501 is randomly determined. When the result is winning of a bonus game, individual indication data and common indication data associated with the type of the bonus game are specified. After an indication effect starts based on the common indication data, an indication effect is executed based on the individual indication data.
US08777733B2	Gaming system, gaming device and method for determining an outcome of a secondary game based on one or more events which occur in association with a primary game In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein includes an accumulation sequence and a competition sequence. In one embodiment, the gaming system includes competitor points which determine (i) a competitor's eligibility to participate in the competition sequence and (ii) the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence. In this embodiment, a competitor (which is either representative of an actual player or a virtual, gaming system controlled player) accumulates competitor points during one or more point accumulation sequences which occur in association with designated events. For a subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system determines if a competitor will participate in the triggered competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points. For the subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system further determines the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points.
US08777731B2	Dynamic configuration of wagering games A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include obtaining a mathematical expression(s) from a configuration file associated with a wagering game. The mathematical expression(s) include elements that represent game-related parameters of the one or more wagering games. In some embodiments, the operations further comprise converting the mathematical expression(s) to a programming code expression(s) equivalent to the mathematical expression(s) in response to detection of user-input to configure the wagering game for use via a wagering game machine. In some embodiments, the operations further comprise evaluating the programming code expression(s) using values for the one or more game-related parameters, and configuring the one or more wagering games based on evaluation of the programming code expression(s) using the values for the one or more game-related parameters.
US08777728B2	Gaming system and a method of gaming Certain embodiments provide a gaming system including a first player interface operable by a player to input at least one first game instruction to play a first game. The gaming system also includes a second player interface independent of the first player interface and operable by the player to play a second game. The gaming system further includes a game control module arranged to process the at least one first game instruction to determine a game outcome of the first game and control play of the second game based at least in part on the game outcome of the first game.
US08777726B2	State-based power-ups Disclosed herein are techniques and equipment for providing state-based power-ups to a wagering game player. The state-based power-ups may be reused by the player until a game outcome condition is not met.
US08777713B2	Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods having time based games and magnitudes associated with wagering events in the time based games A gaming system receives a total wager for a game session which occurs over a designated period of time. The game session includes a plurality of different wagering events. Each of the wagering events is associated with one of a plurality of different magnitudes. For each of the plurality of different wagering events, the gaming system determines: a portion of the total wager amount, and a wager by modifying the determined portion by the magnitude associated with that wagering event. The gaming system causes the wagering event to occur, determines at least one outcome for the wagering event, determines any awards based on the determined wager and the at least one determined outcome, and provides any of the determined awards to the player.
US08777710B2	Apparatus, system, method, and computer-readable medium for casino card handling with multiple hand recall feature Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for detecting, storing, and retrieving information about the composition of present and past hands of cards in a casino table game. The method includes causing a card-handling device to substantially automatically generate a plurality of hands wherein each hand includes one or more cards. Card information is identified that includes a rank and a suit of each card as each card moves through the card-handling device. A play history is maintained of a card composition of more than one round wherein the card composition of each round includes the cards in each hand of each round. The card information of at least one hand from at least one round may be displayed.
US08777707B2	Spreader with GPS guided spread pattern A spreader (100) has a hopper or bin (1) for storing a spreadable material (2), a plurality of spinners (5, 6) adapted to receive the material from the hopper or bin and to spread the material (2) on the ground, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (8) for sensing the position of the spreader (100) and providing an output signal indicative of a position of the spreader to a controller (7). The controller (7) calculates a required pattern and density of material (2) to be spread by the spinners (5, 6) based on a comparison of the actual position of the spreader (A) to a preferred position of the spreader (I), and controls the spinners (5, 6) in order to obtain the required pattern and density of spread material (2). A method of controlling the pattern and density of material spread by a spreader is also disclosed.
US08777706B2	Auger bed for a lateral leveling cleaning system A cleaning system for use in a combine harvester including an auger bed mounted within a frame such that when the combine harvester is laterally inclined from the horizontal, the cleaning system, including the auger bed and a sieve, may be leveled or substantially leveled to a generally horizontal position. The auger bed can include a plurality of augers located side by side with their axes positioned generally longitudinally in the combine harvester.
US08777699B2	Superabrasive tools having substantially leveled particle tips and associated methods Superabrasive tools and methods for making and using the same are provided. In one aspect, for example, a CMP pad dresser includes a first monolayer of superabrasive particles disposed on and coupled to one side of a metal support layer and a second monolayer of superabrasive particles disposed on and coupled to the metal support layer on an opposite side from the first monolayer. The superabrasive particles of the second monolayer are positioned to have substantially the same distribution as the superabrasive particles of the first monolayer.
US08777694B2	Polishing endpoint detection method Method and apparatus for detecting an accurate polishing endpoint of a substrate based on a change in polishing rate are provided. The method includes: applying a light to the surface of the substrate and receiving a reflected light from the substrate; obtaining a plurality of spectral profiles at predetermined time intervals, each spectral profile indicating reflection intensity at each wavelength of the reflected light; selecting at least one pair of spectral profiles, including a latest spectral profile, from the plurality of spectral profiles obtained; calculating a difference in the reflection intensity at a predetermined wavelength between the spectral profiles selected; determining an amount of change in the reflection intensity from the difference; and determining a polishing endpoint based on the amount of change.
US08777691B2	Play structures An arch type play structure may be formed of a single large sheet of e.g. cardboard, which can be folded to flat form for storage, or which may be folded in such a way that parts of it form a box-like structure containing other parts of it. The arch may be decorated e.g. to represent a fireplace (5) or gate.
US08777690B2	Expandable playset with movable platform and doll dressing feature A playset includes a housing defining a chamber, and first and second openings in communication with the chamber. A platform is coupled to the housing and movable in opposing first and second directions through the first opening, and in opposing third and fourth directions through the second opening. A doll is coupleable to the platform and rotatable about an axis between first and second positions relative to the platform. The doll is moved from the first position to the second position as the platform is moved in the second direction, and the doll is moved from the second position to the first position as the platform is moved in the third direction.
US08777688B2	Toy action figure A toy action figure includes a cape and a spring-loaded arm. The upper torso of the toy action figure includes two pivotally coupled arms. The first pivotally coupled arm is configured to retract the cape. An actuator button may be provided on the front of the torso to actuate the cape into an extended position with the assistance of a spring. The second pivotally coupled arm may include a spring-loaded arm to launch a projective therefrom.
US08777687B2	System and method for toy adoption and marketing A computer system provides a virtual world. A registration subsystem verifies information from a toy, registers the toy, provides a virtual character in the virtual world representing the toy, and allows caring for the virtual character. Caring for the character includes maintaining one or more value assigned to a virtual health, hunger and/or happiness of the virtual character via at least one maintenance activity including shopping for virtual food to be fed to the virtual character. The maintenance activity is available to be performed subsequent to said validating said registration code. The values are tracked by the computer system and representations of the values are transmitted to a user computer for display to a user to convey a status indication of the health, hunger and/or happiness of the virtual character.
US08777686B2	Method of jetting a liquid crystal, liquid crystal jetting apparatus for performing the method and method of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel using the apparatus A method of jetting a liquid crystal includes loading a substrate on a stage, controlling a surface temperature of an inkjet head and a substrate to be a setting temperature, and jetting the liquid crystal molecules on the substrate having the setting temperature.
US08777681B1	Systems and methods for maneuvering a marine vessel Systems for maneuvering a marine vessel comprise a plurality of marine propulsion devices that are movable between an aligned position to achieve of movement of the marine vessel in a longitudinal direction and/or rotation of the marine vessel with respect to the longitudinal direction and an unaligned position to achieve transverse movement of the marine vessel with respect to the longitudinal direction. A controller has a programmable circuit and controls the plurality of marine propulsion devices to move into the unaligned position when a transverse movement of the marine vessel is requested and to thereafter remain in the unaligned position after the transverse movement is achieved. Methods of maneuvering a marine vessel comprise requesting transverse movement of the marine vessel with respect to a longitudinal direction and operating a controller to orient a plurality of marine propulsion devices into an unaligned position to achieve the transverse movement, wherein the plurality of marine propulsion devices remain in the unaligned position after the transverse movement is achieved.
US08777672B2	USB female connector The USB female connector contains an insulating base and a shielding casing enclosing the insulating base. On the insulating base, there is mainly a ground terminal having a flat ground contact section at an end on the insulating base. From the ground contact section, the ground terminal is forked into ground extension sections. Through the forked ground extension sections, the crosstalk on the first, second, third, and fourth differential signal terminals by the first and second signal terminals is effectively resolved.
US08777670B2	Plug adapter having plug side ends with dissimilar mechanical interface geometries A plug adapter having a first plug-side end and a second plug-side end, wherein the first plug-side end is designed as a first electrical interface having a first mechanical interface geometry and at least one first inner conductor part and at least one first outer conductor part, and the second plug-side end is designed as a second electrical interface having a second mechanical interface geometry and at least one second inner conductor part and at least one second outer conductor part, wherein the first and second mechanical interface geometries have different designs. The plug adapter is designed with at least one respective first inner conductor part and one respective second inner conductor part, which are integral with one another.
US08777668B2	Wiring member A wiring member is provided that can suppress an influence due to deviation of a position of connection as much as possible so as to maintain a good wiring state. The wiring member 11 is formed of a flexible printed circuit board to be connected to terminals of a plurality of batteries. The wiring member 11 includes a straight section 21 which is disposed along arrangement of aligned terminals, and a plurality of branch sections 22 which extend toward positions of connection to the respective terminals from the straight section 21 so as to be connected thereto. The branch sections 22 have deflection portions 32 which can be deformed in response to displacement of the straight section 21 in the longitudinal direction.
US08777663B2	Receptacle assembly having a commoning clip with grounding beams A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly. A plurality of contact modules are coupled to the front housing. Each contact module includes right and left conductive shells. Each conductive shell holds a frame assembly including a plurality of contacts that extend from the conductive shell for electrical termination. A commoning clip is coupled to the plurality of contact modules. The commoning clip has grounding beams extending forward of the right and left conductive shells for electrical connection to header shields of the header assembly. The commoning clip includes a plurality of openings in a rear thereof with barbs along sides of the openings. Each opening receives right and left conductive shells of a corresponding contact module with the barbs engaging the right and left shells to electrically connect the commoning clip to both the right and left shells of each contact module.
US08777661B2	Coaxial connector having a spring with tynes deflectable by a mating connector A male coaxial cable connector includes spring with tines and a fastener wherein the spring is housed by the fastener and distal ends of the spring tines are arranged to provide a spring mouth.
US08777659B2	Coaxial cable connection module having signal and grounding terminals with flat contact faces and arranged on two sides of an insulating body A coaxial cable connection module including a body; a first signal terminal including a first flat signal contact face; a first ground terminal including a first flat ground contact face; a second signal terminal including a second flat signal contact face; and a second ground terminal including a second flat ground contact face. The first signal contact face and the first ground contact face are arranged, on the first surface of the body, in parallel with each other with a predetermined pitch defined therebetween. The second signal contact face and the second ground contact face are arranged, on the second surface of the body opposite to the first surface, in parallel with each other with the predetermined pitch defined therebetween. The first signal contact face is located opposite to the second ground contact face. The first ground contact face is located opposite to the second signal contact face.
US08777656B2	Connector mechanism for securing a plug to a casing A connector mechanism includes a casing, a socket, a rotary cover and a resilient plate. An opening is formed on the casing. The resilient plate is connected to an inner side of the casing and the rotary cover for driving the rotary cover to rotate relative to the casing. The resilient plate includes a fixing portion fixed on the inner side of the casing, a driving portion resiliently connected to the fixing portion and the rotary cover for driving the rotary cover to rotate relative to the casing by deflection relative to the fixing portion, and a stopping portion disposed on the driving portion for stopping a tongue of a plug as the plug passes through the opening to connect with the socket, so as to fasten the plug.
US08777651B2	Connector There is provided a connector. A lock arm is connected at a leading end-side and a rear end-side of a housing, supported at both ends thereof along an insertion/pulling out direction with respect to an opposite connector housing, and elastically deformable with the connection parts with the housing serving as fulcrums. A locking claw is formed at the lock arm and locked into a locking hole of the opposite connector housing when inserting the housing into the opposite connector housing. The lock arm has a lock release part which releases a locked state of the locking claw to the locking hole by being pressed toward the rear end-side beyond the locking claw. A position of the fulcrum at the rear end-side is arranged at an opposite side to a protruding direction of the locking claw, compared to a position of the fulcrum at the leading end-side.
US08777649B2	Lockable electrical connector assemblies Lockable electrical connector assemblies that couple electrical connectors to prevent the electrical connectors from unintentionally disconnecting are disclosed. The electrical connector assembly has a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, and a retention ring that has one end surrounding and able to rotate about the second electrical connector. The first electrical connector preferably has tabs that extend away from the first electrical connector. The retention ring has a second end shaped to receive and lock the tabs of the male electrical connector. To form a locked connection, a user rotates the retention ring that causes the retention ring to confine the tabs of the first electrical connector. The user continues to rotate the retention ring until retention ring is placed into a locked position.
US08777647B2	Connection system and method A connection system for securing electrical components to a wiring harness includes a body connector having a first opening interconnected to a second opening by a transverse channel, the transverse channel supports a contact assembly along a first plane parallel with said first opening and is transverse to the second opening. The connection system also includes an annular seal surrounding a circular perimeter of a head formed on said body connector.
US08777643B2	Ground strap shield connector A ground strap shield connector assembly includes first and second ground strap shield connectors connected to ends of first and second cables. The first and second ground strap shield connectors include first and second substantially cylindrical support sleeves disposed between an inner insulation layer and a ground shield of the first and second cables, respectively. First and second connecting members are disposed on a portion of the ground shields of the first and second cables such that the first and second connecting members surround the first and second support sleeves, respectively. A ground strap has a first end connected to the first connecting member secured to the first cable and a second end connected to the second connecting member secured to the second cable.
US08777641B2	Connector, PCB for LED light bar and LED light bar The present invention discloses a connector, PCB for LED Light Bar and LED Light Bar. The connector comprises the weld legs and stitches fixed to the shell of the connector, and the weld legs are arranged on the side of the connector and are higher than the bottom surface. A PCB for LED light bar is provided with the installing groove for installing the connector. Because the present invention arranges the weld legs of the connector on positions which are higher than the bottom surface of the shell and arranges the installing groove corresponding to the bottom shape of the connector on the PCB, the bottom of the connector can be arranged in the installing groove, thus the protrusion height of the connector in the LED light bar is reduced. The LGP is not cut again when installing the LGP, thereby reducing the processing step. In addition, the depth that the connector sinks into the installing groove is rationally designed, so that the sufficient safe distance is remained when the LGP is heated and expended, thereby avoiding the LGP bumping into and damaging the connector.
US08777636B2	Coaxial connector for board, pair of chain terminals and method of manufacturing coaxial connector for board Manufacturing efficiency of a connector is greatly improved, and the manufacturing costs and the product cost can be reduced. A coaxial connector (P) for a board of the present invention is configured so that an extended portion of an outer terminal (42) and an extended portion of an inner terminal (44) are positioned so that one extended portion is not superimposed on the other extended portion when a half-cylinder portion of the outer terminal is viewed from an upper side.
US08777635B1	Daughter card assembly having a power contact A daughter card assembly including a daughter card having a leading edge. The daughter card includes signal contacts that are disposed along the leading edge, wherein the leading edge is configured to be inserted into a card cavity of a receptacle connector during a mating operation. The daughter card assembly also includes a power module that is coupled to the daughter card. The power module includes a module housing having a module cavity and a cavity opening that provides access to the module cavity. The power module also includes a power contact that is disposed within the module cavity and projects through the cavity opening. The power contact is configured to engage a corresponding electrical contact of the receptacle connector during the mating operation. The power contact is deflected by the electrical contact into the module cavity as the power contact and the electrical contact engage each other.
US08777633B2	Rotatable data card An embodiment of the present invention discloses a rotatable data card. The rotatable data card includes a data card body, a USB connector, and a rotating shaft assembly. The rotating shaft assembly includes a rotating shaft, a fixed fluted disk, and a rotating shaft casing. The rotating shaft and the fixed fluted disk are accommodated in the rotating shaft casing. Teeth are set on the rotating shaft and the fixed fluted disk, and the rotating shaft and the fixed fluted disk are engaged with each other. The USB connector includes a bracket, where a hole is opened on the bracket. The rotating shaft casing is fixed in the hole. The rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the data card body. The rotating shaft rotates relative to the fixed fluted disk, and an angle between the data card body and the USB connector is never 180 degrees.
US08777629B2	Device and method for simulating a welding process The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for simulating a welding process. The device comprises a computer (2) having an input device (11) and an output device (6), a welding torch (3), a magnetic position monitoring device having at least one transmitter and a plurality of sensors, a retaining device (15) for a workpiece (4) used for the simulation and a visualization device (16) for generating a two- or three-dimensional image on the output device (6). The retaining device (15) has a recess into which the workpiece (4) can be inserted, at least one transmitter of the position monitoring device being arranged below the recess at as small a distance from the workpiece as possible, and the retaining device (15) being designed as a small, portable box to be placed on a table (10).
US08777628B2	Predictive performance optimizer A method, apparatus and program product are provided for optimizing a training regimen to achieve performance goals. Historical training data is provided. At least one training regimen is defined. A training objective is selected for at least one training regimen to optimize. The training regimen is optimized by computing an initial training regimen solution and computing a neighbor solution at a distance from the initial training regimen solution. The neighbor solution is compared to the initial training regimen solution. If the neighbor solution is determined to be a better solution than the initial training regimen solution, the initial training regimen solution is replaced with the neighbor solution. The determination occurs using: Performance = S · St · N c · T - d ⁢ ⁢ and ⁢ ⁢ St = ⌊ ( lag i ) T i ⁢ N i ⌋ . The distance is updated per a schedule to compute a next neighbor solution.
US08777619B2	Vehicle crew training system for ground and air vehicles A computer based simulation system for virtual training for vehicle crews is disclosed. The Vehicle Crew Training System (VCTS) simulates crew positions for different military ground and air vehicles. Two or more crewman modules are networked together to support a partial or full vehicle crew. The crewman modules are self-contained devices that are modular in hardware and software design, easily reconfigurable, and require minimal facility space, allowing use in restricted environments such as trailers. The VCTS is modular at the crew position level; crewman modules are added or deleted as required to meet a particular training need.
US08777618B2	Medical implant II A medical implant for insertion into bone including a zone sensitive to electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source, the zone comprising a polymer material configured to transition from a solid condition to a softened condition when the zone is exposed to the electromagnetic radiation and being flowable into interspaces of the bone in the softened condition, and a light-conducting portion configured to conduct the electromagnetic radiation from the radiation source to the zone when the medical implant is inserted into the bone.
US08777617B2	Dental abutment To provide a dental abutment having an embedded part embedded into an embedding hole of a block and fixed in the embedding hole. An uniform gap for a dental adhesive can be formed along an approximately entire circumference between an outer peripheral surface of the embedded part and an inner surface of the embedding hole. The dental abutment includes a gingiva contact part 1 having a forward-thicker truncated conical shape on the intraoral side; a fitting part 2 projecting toward the jawbone side from the jawbone-side contact surface 1a of the gingiva contact part 1, and fitted into an end part on the intraoral side of the implant fixture so as not to rotate; and an embedded part 3 to be embedded. Three or more projecting line parts 5 are formed on an outer peripheral surface 3a of the embedded part 3 so as to form the uniform gap.
US08777615B2	Dental prophylaxis devices The present invention is directed to dental prophylaxis devices that improve portability, maneuverability and aid in retaining clean conditions for use on dental patients, particularly to dental handpieces. The present invention is also directed prophylaxis or prophy angles for use with such handpieces. In general, a dental prophylaxis device includes a handpiece and a prophy angle which includes a driven shaft and a prophy cup attached for rotation thereto. The handpiece generally includes a body which houses a rotational source coupled to an output shaft which couples to the driven shaft in the prophy angle via angled gear interfaces on the output shaft and the driven shaft.
US08777611B2	Enhancement to dental alignment device Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a pontic in a pontic-housing pocket of one or more polymeric shell appliances having teeth-receiving cavities. Cavities in the polymeric shell appliances corresponding to the location of a missing or extracted tooth may include a pontic-housing pocket. The pocket may be filled with a composite resin or acrylic material that hardens and presents with a similar visual appearance to a tooth, thereby presenting the illusion that there is no missing tooth. The pontic-hardening pocket may have a single opening of sufficient size for receiving a syringe for injecting the pontic material. After the material hardens and the pontic is formed, it is locked into the pocket, as it cannot fit through the single opening. As the space of a missing tooth is widened or narrowed by the alignment treatment, successive shell appliances may have pontics of successively larger or smaller size.
US08777610B2	Method for heating a pre-warmed muffle used for dental ceramics in a dental furnace and control device and furnace containing said device For a simplified method for heating a pre-warmed muffle used for dental ceramics in a dental furnace, wherein a saving of time in heating before the pressing and also a parallel heating of the muffles should be made possible, the following steps are suggested: a) heating of the muffle to a maximal temperature (Tmax), which is above the pressing temperature (Tpress), in which pressing is carried out, b) possibly keeping the muffle at a maximal temperature (Tmax) during a first pause (t-1), c) cooling of the muffle to a minimal temperature (Tmin), which is at most as high as the pressing temperature (Tpress), and d) keeping the muffle at a minimal temperature (Tmin) during a second pause (t2). In addition, a corresponding control device for the dental furnace and a furnace equipped with this kind of control device are produced.
US08777609B2	Dual fuel heater A heater having first and second oxygen depletion sensors and a main burner injector and configurable for the delivery of at least first and second types of fuels.
US08777607B2	Mold including a locking device The invention relates to a mold (1) for molding, in particular by injection, that comprises two half-molds (2, 3) each defined by a side surface (21, 31), a front face and a rear face. One at least of said two half-molds is to be associated with means for opening and closing the mold. The two half-molds can be brought into contact at the level of a junction plane (1) when the mold is in the closed position. The mold is characterized in that one half-mold is provided with a locking device (6) that comprises: at least one latch (7) that can be simultaneously housed in a recess (25) in each half-mold (2, 3); and at least one independent system (8) capable of bringing together or separating the latch (7) and the recesses (25, 35) in which the latch (7) is to be received, and including one or more jack(s) (8) including a chamber connected to the half-mold, a piston capable of movement in said chamber, and a rod connected to the piston and to which the latch is attached.
US08777605B2	Deckle technology The invention provides a deckle system for extrusion dies. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods of cleaning an extrusion die equipped with a retractable external deckle system. Also provided in some embodiments is a deckle system having a novel deckle adjustment mechanism. In other embodiments, the invention provides an advantageous internal deckle member equipped with a removable, replaceable internally threaded insert.
US08777602B2	Method and apparatus for layerwise production of a 3D object A system and method for layer-by-layer production of an object is provided. The system includes a construction shape having a carrying surface adapted for carrying a layer of build material, a plate having a holding surface adapted for holding an object in an object build area, a moveable reservoir having a plurality of containment surfaces defining a containment area adapted for containing a volume of build material within the moveable reservoir, and an exposure unit adapted for exposing at least a portion of the layer of build material in the object build area so that the portion of the layer of build material solidifies to form a solidified layer of the object. In one embodiment, the moveable reservoir is moveable between a first position and a second position and at least one of the plurality of containment surfaces of the moveable reservoir includes a portion of the carrying surface when the moveable reservoir is in the first position, and the portion of the carrying surface is positioned in the object build area when the moveable reservoir is in the second position.
US08777596B2	Flushing system An apparatus includes a pump, a motor operatively coupled to the pump, and a flushing system. The motor includes a stator and a rotor disposed in a rotor cavity isolated from the stator. The flushing system is operable to provide a flushing medium to the rotor cavity.
US08777593B2	Electric compressor An electric compressor is installed in a vehicle and includes a shell. The electric compressor includes an inverter, a cover, and a conductive component. The cover covers the shell and the inverter. The conductive component is electrically connected to the inverter and arranged outside the cover. The cover includes an outer guide surface inclined relative to a forward direction of the vehicle. The outer guide surface has a normal including a forward component directed in the forward direction. The outer guide surface is arranged closer to an outer side of the vehicle than the conductive component.
US08777591B2	Electrically driven compressor system for vehicles An electrically driven compressor system for vehicles has a hollow shell, inside which there is a transmission set and a scroll set. The outer surrounding of the hollow shell is formed with a chamber. A control circuit board is disposed in the chamber. A processing chip is provided on the side of the control circuit board that faces the bottom of the chamber. A thermal paste is coated on the end surface of the processing chip towards the bottom of the chamber. The end surface of the processing chip with the thermal paste coating urges against the bottom surface of the chamber.
US08777590B2	Fluid delivery device identification and loading system A medical pump includes a chassis having a fixed seat and a carriage having a footing for receiving a fluid delivery device and restricting its movement. An actuator assembly is provided that allows for moving the carriage between an opened and closed position to engage the fluid delivery device to the seat. A rack and pinion system is utilized in combination with a cam element and spring element to provide a bi-stable actuator assembly that urges the carriage into a fully opened position or a fully closed position and will not allow the carriage to dwell in an intermediate position if external force is withdrawn.
US08777587B2	Fluid transfer tube for severe misalignment applications A hydraulic system for a ram air turbine includes a hydraulic pump having a high pressure fluid outlet port, a housing, a pivot post arranged to pass through the housing and defining a mechanical pivot relative to the housing about an axis, a transfer tube positioned between the high pressure fluid outlet port of the hydraulic pump and a port in the housing for the high pressure fluid outlet path, and seal elements positioned at or near opposite ends of the transfer tube. A fluid inlet path and a high pressure fluid outlet path pass through the housing and the pivot post. The transfer tube has a crowned end.
US08777584B2	Energy saving green wastewater pump station design An energy saving three pump waste water pump station design that eliminates the high energy usage of traditional waste water pump stations, reduces maintenance costs to the pumps and increases the useful lives of the pumps by having a primary pump running continuously, a second pump mining during high demand periods and a third pump functioning primarily as a back up pump. Unlike conventional pump-station designs, the Energy Saving Green Pump Station Design utilizes a single float switch panel. Whereas independent float switches trigger start-stops in conventional pump station designs, the Green design incorporates a remote controllable panel for rotating the primary, secondary and third pumps on a schedule. This design also provides a process for determining in-flow rates for a pump station and efficiency operating points of pumps so that the most efficient pumps with the lowest horsepower can be selected.
US08777583B2	Turbine airfoil components containing ceramic-based materials and processes therefor A hybrid turbine airfoil component containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the component are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the component. The component includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material, and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent includes a blade tip shroud portion having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent.
US08777578B2	Method of manufacturing a spar for a wind turbine from elements having geometrically well-defined joint surface portions The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar (1) for a wind turbine blade steps of providing at least two caps (2a, 2b), each cap forming an intermediate portion (4) between two end portions (5), where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion (6) along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion (7) of the spar, providing at least two webs (3a, 3b), each web being provided with web joint surface portions (8) along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The at least two caps are configured for attachment to a blade shell so that the intermediate portion of one of the caps faces towards or forms part of a windward surface of the blade and the other one of the caps faces towards or forms part of a leeward surface of the blade.
US08777573B2	Sectional wind turbine blade Wind turbine blade comprising two or more blade sections each of which defines a non-joint zone and, at one or each of its ends, a joint zone. The blade sections are connected in pairs such that the joint zones of each pair are connected at a joint, whereby the joint is positioned between two non-joint zones. At least one of the joints have an increased thickness and a wider chord relative to the thickness and the chord of the two non-joint zone between which the joint is positioned so as to increase the second moment of inertia in the area of the joint.
US08777572B2	Rotor blade A rotor blade has a radially extending aerofoil body having pressure and suction sides. The rotor blade further has squealer tip. The squealer tip includes a peripheral wall surrounding a cavity which is open at the radially outward end of the blade and at the trailing edge of the aerofoil body. The peripheral wall has at least one first region which extends radially from the aerofoil surface which has a first outer surface. The peripheral wall further has, along at least part of at least one of the pressure and suction sides, at least one second region inclined outwardly of the cavity with respect to the radial direction of the blade which has a second outer surface which extends obliquely outwardly of the blade. A radially outer portion of the second outer surface turns towards the radial direction to truncate the outward extension of the second outer surface.
US08777568B2	Apparatus and methods for cooling platform regions of turbine rotor blades A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root, wherein the rotor blade includes an interior cooling passage that in operation, includes at least a high-pressure coolant region and a low-pressure coolant region, and wherein the platform includes a platform underside. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a plate that comprises a plate topside; a channel formed on the plate topside, the channel comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, and being open through the plate topside such that, upon attaching the plate to the platform, the platform underside comprises a channel ceiling; a high-pressure connector that connects the upstream end of the channel to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; and a low-pressure connector that connects the downstream end of the channel to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage.
US08777567B2	Turbine blades, turbine assemblies, and methods of manufacturing turbine blades A turbine blade includes a first side wall including a first tip edge, a second side wall opposite the first side wall and including a second tip edge, a tip wall between the first and second side walls, the tip wall recessed from the first tip edge of the first side wall and the second tip edge of the second side wall forming a coolant cavity, a tip recess cavity, a first parapet wall on the first side wall, and a second parapet wall on the second side wall, the coolant cavity defined by the tip wall, and the tip recess cavity defined by the tip wall, and the first and second parapet walls, a step formed between the first tip edge and the tip wall, a cooling hole through the first parapet wall, the step, and the tip wall, the cooling hole including an open and a closed channel section.
US08777564B2	Hybrid flow blade design Airfoils according to embodiments of this invention result in a hybrid controlled flow concept that reduces leakage loss by creating a different vortexing concept near endwall regions of the airfoils than at the core region of the airfoils. Specifically, a turbine static nozzle airfoil is disclosed having a variable, non-linear, throat dimension, s, divided by a pitch length, t, distribution (“s/t distribution”) across its radial length. In one embodiment, a plurality of static nozzle airfoils are provided, with each static nozzle airfoil configured such that a throat distance between adjacent static nozzle airfoils is larger proximate the hub regions of the airfoils than proximate the core regions of the airfoils, and the throat distance between adjacent static nozzle airfoils is smaller proximate the tip regions of the airfoils than proximate the core regions.
US08777558B2	Casing for a moving-blade wheel of turbomachine A casing for a turbomachine rotor wheel includes a plurality of circumferential grooves, each of substantially constant section, with the section areas of the circumferential grooves decreasing from upstream to downstream on going from the first groove to the last groove. By treating the casing in this way, the efficiency of the rotor wheel is optimized and its surge margin is improved.
US08777555B1	Yaw drive tidal turbine system and method A tidal turbine system includes yaw drive for rotating the turbine between a first position associated with tidal flow and a second position associated with tidal ebbs. The yaw drive is capable of moving the tidal turbine to a position where the tidal turbine is pointed substantially directly into the tidal flow in the first position and substantially into the tidal ebb in a second position. A method for harvesting tidal energy includes rotating the tidal turbine between one of the first position and the second position.
US08777541B2	Conveyor control apparatus of liquid crystal panel substrates and control method thereof A conveyor control apparatus of liquid crystal panel substrates and a control method thereof is disclosed. The apparatus has multiple first side pillars and multiple second side pillars mounted opposite to the first side pillars. A movement control assembly is mounted outside the first side pillars and the second side pillars. The movement control assembly is used to move to a slot where the liquid crystal panel substrate is to move is inserted, and control the certain liquid crystal panel substrate inserted in the slot to move out from the conveyor control apparatus.
US08777537B2	Fastener with shear bushing A fastener is disclosed including a threaded male fastener and a shear bushing for coupling thin walled structures together. The shear bushing having an internal through opening and a shear ring constructed to project across an interface of adjacent walls is operable for absorbing shear loads transmitted into the fastener from a fastened structure. The male fastener includes a threaded portion extending through the shear ring for engaging a threaded female receiver.
US08777535B2	Fastening devices for explosion-proof enclosures A system for fastening a cover to a body of an explosion-proof enclosure using a plurality of fastening devices. Each fastening device can include a first load distributing member disposed on a body flange of a body of the explosion-proof enclosure. Each fastening device can also include a second load distributing member disposed on a cover flange of a cover of the explosion-proof enclosure. Each fastening device can further include a fastener positioned atop the first load distributing member, where the fastener traverses the first load distributing member, the cover flange, and the body flange. Each fastening device can also include a fastener receiver positioned under the second load distributing member and mechanically coupled to the fastener.
US08777534B2	Connection system of a housing of a plug connector having a nut In the case of a connection system having a housing (10) and a nut (16) which can be arranged on the housing (10), the aim is to provide a solution by means of which it is possible to prevent the nut (16) from being released inadvertently from the housing (10). This is intended to be achieved in that the nut (16) is formed from an elastic material and latching elements (24) are formed on the nut (16), which latching elements (24) can be latched to mating latching elements (26) which are formed on the housing (10).
US08777530B2	Tool holder for use in a machine tool and method for operating such a tool holder A tool holder has a first holder part for inserting into a receptacle in the machine tool and a second holder part for holding a tool. The tool holder has a conduit for directing a coolant and/or lubricant to the tool from a coolant and/or lubricant source. The tool has a conduit section for the coolant and/or lubricant for directing the latter to a machining point, and wherein, in the fitted state of the tool in the tool holder, the conduit is in contact with the conduit section at a coupling point. Provision is made for there to be an air feed line which directs compressed air from a compressed-air source into the region of the coupling point in such a way that the compressed air acts on the outer circumferential surface of the conduit and of the conduit section. Furthermore, methods for operating such a tool holder are described.
US08777529B2	Mechanism for delivering cryogenic coolant to a rotating tool A rotary coolant adapter that is compatible with commercially available tool holders attaches to a rotary tool holder to supply coolant to a flow path in a rotary tool. The rotary coolant adapter has a stationary outer housing and a stationary supply tube for supplying coolant to an annular coolant manifold that surrounds a portion of the rotary tool holder. An internal radial feed tube supplies coolant from the annular coolant manifold to the flow path in the tool. Bearings support the stationary outer housing on the rotary coolant holder, and seals are located between the annular coolant manifold and the bearings to prevent coolant leakage from the annular manifold reaching the bearings.
US08777523B2	Geotextile tube with flat ends A flexible water-permeable geotextile tube having flat ends when filled with fill material. The tube has separate end panels that are attached to a tube body at the tube body's opposing ends. In one embodiment of this invention, the separate end panels are configured to have the same shape as that of a cross-section of the tube body when the tube body is filled and installed. The cross section of the tube body may be determined before installation by determining the relationship between the height, circumference, the fill material, and the surrounding environment into which the tube is planned to be installed.
US08777519B1	Methods and apparatus of building construction resisting earthquake and flood damage A three part foundation system for supporting a building is described. Three part foundation systems can include a containment vessel, which constrains a buffer medium to an area above the containment vessel, and a construction platform. A building can be built on the construction platform. In a particular embodiment, during operation, the construction platform and structures built on the construction platform can float on the buffer medium. In an earthquake, a construction platform floating on a buffer medium may experience greatly reduced shear forces. In a flood, a construction platform floating on a buffer medium can be configured to rise as water levels rise to limit flood damage.
US08777516B2	Tarp and ballast system An improved tarp and ballast system that includes a plurality of panels attached to one another along the lengths thereof, wherein the lengths of the panels correspond to the length of the tarp. The tarp also includes chain pockets located at the sides of the tarp which run the length of the tarp and have chains secured therein. The tarp further includes a plurality of cable pockets and associated ballast anchors oriented across the width of the tarp which are adapted to secure a plurality of ballast cables to the tarp.
US08777512B2	Vertically stackable and retrofittable traffic cone linking A vertically stackable and retrofittable traffic cone linking system having a plurality of linking cuffs substantially conically shaped linking cuffs having four connection points, sized and configured to be removably secured to a standard traffic cone and a traffic cone linking connector removably connected to the linking cuffs. Once the traffic cone linking cuff is linked to the traffic cone linking connector, the traffic cone linking system can be can be arranged in a predetermined configuration or arrangement to alert onlookers of a particular hazard or to impede access to a given location.
US08777511B1	System and method for a law enforcement officer to temporarily disable a vehicle during a traffic stop A system and method for temporarily hindering the ability of a vehicle to be driven. A locking assembly is provided that has arms and a trigger release. At least one spring element is provided for biasing the arms into a locked configuration. The arms are cocked into the open configuration against the bias of the spring element. When the trigger release is activated, the arms automatically spring back to the locked configuration. An elongated application pole is provided that is used to propel the locking assembly a wheel of the vehicle. The contact activates the trigger release and causes the arms to move into the locked configuration and mechanically engage the wheel. Once the locking assembly is locked onto the wheel, the wheel is inhibited from turning and the vehicle becomes disabled.
US08777507B1	Cosmetic applicator and dispenser A cosmetic system includes a motorized applicator/dispenser with an applicator brush and a motorized handle unit for automatically moving the applicator brush in one or more directions. A cosmetic container unit containing a cosmetic is in communication with the applicator brush and the cosmetic is wicked or dispensed onto the skin when the applicator brush comes into contact with the skin and the applicator brush is automatically moved in one or more directions. In some embodiments, the motorized applicator/dispenser includes touch control for controlling the movement of the applicator brush.
US08777504B2	Cleaning tool A tool that is useful for cleaning and disinfecting the attachment surfaces of a fluid connector device used in medical applications, the tool having a housing with an opening of defined shape and a chemically treated flexible insert positionable inside the housing that substantially conforms to the inside wall of the housing and, when placed over the attachment surfaces of a fluid connector device, can be manipulated axially and rotationally relative to the attachment surfaces to contact, clean and disinfect the surfaces. Some embodiments can also be used for topical cleaning of skin or other surfaces.
US08777503B2	Applicator for combing the eyelashes or the eyebrows or for applying a composition thereto The present invention relates to an applicator (2) for combing the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows and/or for applying a composition thereto, the applicator comprising a molded applicator member (8), comprising: • a core having a longitudinal axis; and • teeth that extend outwards from the core, the majority of the teeth having a length lying in the range 0.5 mm to 1.8 mm; the applicator member (8) having a greatest transverse dimension, measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the core, that is strictly less than 6 mm, on at least 70% of the length of the applicator member.
US08777501B2	Media loading devices A media loading device includes a detachable stiffener that is detachably connected to a leading portion of a soft media and supports the leading portion of the soft media during threading of the soft media through a media path of a printer. A method for loading soft media includes detachably connecting a leading edge of soft media onto a detachable stiffener and placing the detachable stiffener and soft media into a printer. The detachable stiffener and soft media are fed through the media path in the printer.
US08777498B2	Method for manufacturing optical module A method of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an optical module (10) including an optical fiber (3) and an optical fiber insertion pipe (2) into which the optical fiber (3) is inserted, and includes a sealing step in which the optical fiber insertion pipe (2) is hermetically sealed. The sealing step includes a contact step, a heating step, and a feeding step. In the contact step, a heat conductor member (5) is provided along and in contact with a side surface of the optical fiber insertion pipe (2), the heat conductor member having a heat conductivity greater than that of an environmental atmosphere of the sealing step and having a heat generating property of generating heat by induction heating, which heat generating property of the heat conductor member is inferior to that of the optical fiber insertion pipe (2) in terms of heat generation amount. In the heating step, the optical fiber insertion pipe (2) thus provided with the heat conductor member (5) is heated by induction heating. In the feeding step, a solder (6) is fed to a feed hole (4) provided in the optical fiber insertion pipe (2). The present invention provides the method in which workability of hermetic sealing is thus improved.
US08777497B2	Bidirectional optical transceiver module Disclosed is a bidirectional optical transceiver module having an efficient optical coupling structure. The bidirectional optical transceiver module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first structure which has a hexahedron shape, has four side surfaces of which two side surfaces are formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a bottom surface, and is transparent to both a transmitted light component and a received light component; and at least one second structure which has a planar shape, is inserted in the first structure so as to form a right angle with the bottom surface of the first structure and be tilted by a predetermined angle from a direction of the transmitted light component or the received light component, and is transparent to one of the transmitted light component and the received light component and reflective of the other one.
US08777489B2	Ball bearing and hybrid vehicle transmission A ball bearing includes an inner ring having a raceway surface, an outer ring having a raceway surface, a plurality of rolling elements rollably disposed between the raceway surface of the inner ring and the raceway surfaces of the outer ring, and a resin cage configured to retain the plurality of rolling elements between the inner ring and the outer ring. The cage is a crown type cage having an annular base portion and a plurality of pockets formed in an axial end face of the annular base portion, in which the pockets retain the rolling elements. An axial distance between an axial position of a center of gravity of the cage and a curvature center of a spherical or cylindrical inner surface of each of the pockets is 0.6 or more times a radius of curvature of the inner surface. A hybrid vehicle transmission has this ball bearing.
US08777486B2	Packaging bag with steam venting function and package using the packaging bag A packaging bag having a steam venting function capable of releasing pressure inside a package even when heating cooking is performed by a microwave oven and preventing the inside of the bag from being contaminated and the package using the packaging bag. The packaging bag includes two pieces of front and back main body films having sealant layers which are opposed to each other with the sealant layers facing inward, side seal parts, and a bottom seal part. The front body film is folded in the vicinity of the bottom seal part throughout the entire width of the bag and parallel with the bottom seal part to form a fold-in part. A steam venting port is formed in the fold-in part, and an easily peelable tape covering the steam venting port is disposed on the inside of the fold-in part throughout the width of the bag and parallel with the fold-in part, and then heat-sealed.
US08777484B2	Resistance temperature sensor A resistance temperature sensor with a first temperature sensor element and a second temperature sensor element, wherein the first temperature sensor element comprises a first measuring path and the second temperature sensor element a second measuring path, wherein the first and the second measuring paths extend on a substrate, wherein the substrate has an anisotropic thermal expansion with at least two mutually differing expansion directions (a, c), and wherein a projection of the first measuring path on the expansion directions (a) differs from a projection of the second measuring path on the expansion directions (c).
US08777483B2	Temperature measuring apparatus and temperature measuring method The temperature measuring apparatus includes: a light source; a first wavelength-dividing unit which wavelength-divides a light from the light source into m lights whose wavelength bands are different from one another; m first dividing units which divides each of the m lights from the first wavelength-dividing unit into n lights; a transmitting unit which transmits lights from the m first dividing unit to measurement points of an object to be measured; a light receiving unit which receives a light reflected by each of the measurement points; and a temperature calculating unit which calculates a temperature of each of the measurement points based on a waveform of the light received by the light receiving unit.
US08777480B2	Rotating bezel system The invention concerns a timepiece comprising a middle part (30) closed by a back cover and a crystal, said middle part (30) comprising a peripheral shoulder (34) in which a groove (37) is arranged, said groove being disposed on a surface of the shoulder parallel to the central axis of the middle part (C), said timepiece comprising a rotating bezel system (20) rotatably mounted on said peripheral shoulder, characterised in that said rotating bezel system includes a bezel ring (40, 41) provided with at least a first recess (46) disposed on a surface of the bezel intended to face said groove when said rotating bezel system (20) is fitted onto the middle part, said rotating bezel system (20) further comprising a spring means (80) extending both into said at least one first recess (46) of the bezel and at the same time into the groove (37) in the middle part so as to hold the rotating bezel system (20) on the middle part (30) of the timepiece.
US08777479B2	System for use in bone cement preparation and delivery A system for use in bone cement preparation can include a chamber for intermixing a liquid monomer and solid polymer components, a container, a vacuum channel, and a filter. The mixing chamber can be configured to hold a non-liquid, polymer powder component of a bone cement. The container can be configured to hold a liquid component of the bone cement. The system can have a first interface disposed between the mixing chamber and the container and a second interface disposed between the mixing chamber and the vacuum channel. The second interface can to receive and position the filter between the mixing chamber and the vacuum channel. The vacuum channel can direct a partial vacuum to draw the liquid component from the container into the non-liquid component in the mixing chamber to intermix the components and to thereby provide a settable bone cement.
US08777477B2	Inflatable cushion for ice cream maker An inflatable cushion useable for an ice cream maker. The ice cream maker can be spherical in shape and the inflatable cushion can approximate a spherical or dodecahedron shell. The inflatable cushion can be comprised of two half-shell portions that are pivotable with respect to one other to be selectively placed in a closed or open position. The ice cream maker can be snugly inserted within the inflatable cushion.
US08777471B2	Electronic equipment provided with display portion An LCD indicator unit contains an LCD indicator with a display portion that includes set temperature and current temperature display portions, a diffusion sheet disposed on the rear surface side of the LCD indicator, a reflective frame body disposed on the rear surface side of the diffusion sheet, a light guide plate disposed on the rear surface side of the reflective frame body such that an outer peripheral portion thereof is covered with the reflective frame body, and an LCD indicator control substrate-disposed on the rear surface side of the light guide plate, with LEDs serving as light sources for the LCD indicator mounted on a right-side outer peripheral portion on the front surface side of the LCD indicator control substrate. Light emitted from the LEDs is caused to enter a side wall surface portion of the light guide plate to irradiate the display portion of the LCD indicator.
US08777470B2	Luminous partition This interior wall includes at least one cladding panel (4) covered with a luminous fabric (6), lying in a substantially vertical plane and having a front face receiving the luminous fabric, a rear face opposite the front face, a bottom edge, and a top edge. The luminous fabric includes optical fibers (7) extending substantially vertically over the front face of the first cladding panel and first ends of which are bent around the bottom edge of the first cladding panel toward its rear face. A casing (8) accommodates light sources and includes connecting elements (10) for the ends of the optical fibers (7) of the luminous fabric bent around the bottom edge of the first cladding panel. The first casing (8) is fastened to the first cladding panel and is supported by feet (20) extending beyond the bottom edge of the first cladding panel.
US08777464B2	Rotatable illumination device A rotatable illumination device includes a first casing, a light emitting module, a first fixing member and a second fixing member. The first casing has a first rotating portion and a first protruding portion is formed on the first rotating portion. The light emitting module is disposed in the first casing. A first indentation is formed on the first fixing member and the first protruding portion can pass through the first indentation. A second indentation and a second protruding portion are formed on the second fixing member and the first protruding portion can pass through the second indentation. The first and second fixing members are fixed together, and the first and second protruding portions are coplanar. The first protruding portion cooperates with the second protruding portion to limit rotating angle of the first casing.
US08777463B2	Hybrid solid state emitter printed circuit board for use in a solid state directional lamp An assembly for use in a solid state directional lamp is disclosed. The assembly includes a multilayer FR4 printed circuit board and a metal heat spreader assembled with the multilayer FR4 printed circuit board. The assembly is configured to mount a plurality of solid state light emitters. The multilayer FR4 printed circuit board defines an aperture and a least a portion of the metal heat spreader is positioned in the aperture of the multilayer FR4 printed circuit board. The portion of the heat spreader positioned in the aperture of the multilayer FR4 printed circuit board is in communication with heat dissipation means.
US08777461B2	Backlight module and liquid crystal display The present invention discloses a backlight module and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The backlight module includes a backplane, a light guide plate, a heat dissipation element and a connector. The light guide plate is disposed on the side of the backplane. The heat dissipation element includes a horizontal part and a vertical part interconnected to each other. The horizontal part is disposed on the other side of the backplane away from the light guide plate, and the vertical part is disposed next to light incident surface of the light guide plate. The light source is disposed on the side of the vertical part close to light incident surface. The connector connects the heat dissipation element to the backplane and allows the heat dissipation element to move relatively to the backplane in the gap direction between the light guide plate and the light source. Through this way, the backlight module and LCD according to the present invention can effectively prevent the light guide plate to squeeze the light source and reduce the temperature of the light source.
US08777460B2	Wall pack light fixture A lighting fixture includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion includes a base and a wall extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the base. A top portion of the wall includes one or more hinges extending outwardly therefrom. The second housing portion includes a front panel and a side panel extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the front panel. A top portion of the front panel includes at least one slot. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an open position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel is disposed elevationally above the base. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an operational position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel covers the base.
US08777459B2	Recessed luminaire In an embodiment, a luminaire may include a housing that includes a support panel, a rotation ring supported by the support panel where the rotation ring is infinitely adjustable with a range of adjustments with respect to the support panel, a rotation drive unit configured to rotate the rotation ring with respect to the support panel, an aiming frame supported by the rotation ring, a tray system pivotally mounted to the aiming frame and configured to receive the bulb, and a tray drive configured to rotate the tray system about the pivotal mounting, whereby, in operation the rotational and angular orientation of the bulb may be adjusted while the bulb is on.
US08777457B2	LED device for wide beam generation and method of making the same A predetermined illuminated surface pattern is generated from a predetermined energy distribution pattern of an LED light source within an LED package having a light transmitting dome. An estimated optical transfer function of a lens shape of an optic is defined by the shape of an exterior and inner surface which envelopes at least in part the light transmitting dome of the LED package. An energy distribution pattern is obtained by combination of the estimated optical transfer function and the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. A projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is determined. The projection is compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern. The estimated optical transfer function is illuminated surface pattern.
US08777454B2	Lamp color temperature change structure A lamp color temperature change structure includes a lamp holder, a light source on the lamp holder, a lift unit in front of the light source, and a colored lens mounted to the lift unit. The colored lens is movable and driven by the lift unit to a first position which is away from the front of the light source or a second position which is in front of the light source. The user can select the light from the light source to radiate toward the front of the lamp holder or penetrate the colored lens to generate a color temperature change and then radiate toward the front of the lamp holder according to different environment conditions.
US08777453B2	LED replacement kit for high intensity discharge light fixtures Disclosed is a kit for converting an existing high discharge light unit to an LED based light unit, with the option of including a networked capability among a group of LED light units. The kit includes a drop-in component mounting plate on which are mounted an LED light source, sensors including a thermal sensor, a control unit, a DC power supply, a heat sink, and a dimmer unit. A wireless transceiver allows the LED light units to operate as a network, with two way flow of information from the LED light units to a control unit.
US08777451B2	Device for uniform, large area flood exposure with LEDs A method for providing uniform flood exposure of LED light onto large area substrates is disclosed herein. The substrates can be up to several square meters in surface area. A method for providing uniform cooling of the LEDs within the apparatus is also disclosed.
US08777450B2	Light irradiation device The present invention uniforms a size of an LED substrate 2 to realize reduction of the number of parts and reduction of a manufacturing cost, and is a light irradiation device comprising: a long LED substrate 2 on which a plurality of same LEDs 21 are mounted; a chassis 3 having a substrate housing space for housing the LED substrate 2, wherein the number of LEDs 21 in which a difference between a power source voltage VE and a sum of a forward voltage Vf in the series connection of the LEDs 21 is within an allowable range is employed as the number of LED units, and the number of LEDs 21 mounted on the LED substrate 2 is a common multiple of the number of LED units determined in each of LEDs 21 of different wavelengths.
US08777448B2	LED lamp with light-diffusing end cap An LED lamp includes a plurality of LED modules arranged in direction x, a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules that is open at ends spaced from each other in direction x, and end caps respectively closing the ends of the tubular enclosure in direction x. Each of the end caps is configured to diffuse light from the LED modules while transmitting the light, and includes an emission surface for emitting light in a direction z perpendicular to direction x. This arrangement ensures that the LED lamp has a good appearance even when it is made long.
US08777434B2	Refrigerator with externally mounted lighting A refrigerator constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a cabinet that defines an interior volume. A first door is coupled to the cabinet and is movable between a closed position and an open position. A light is disposed on the cabinet outside of the interior volume. The light is configured to illuminate when the door is in the open position and shine light toward the interior volume.
US08777433B2	Keypad lighting device for portable terminal A keypad lighting device includes: a keypad member formed by an arrangement of plural key tops; at least one light emitting device arranged below the key pad member; and a light guide plate member arranged below the keypad member to light the key tops with light projected from the light emitting device. The light guide plate member is formed with at least one light-incident surface, to which the light projected from the light emitting device is incident. The light-incident surface is formed by a curved surface or plural inclined surfaces, and at least one of the normal lines of the light-incident surface is arranged to pass through the light emitting surface of the light emitting device.
US08777430B2	Exterior mirror element with auxiliary reflector portion A mirror reflector sub-assembly for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element having a glass substrate with first and second surfaces. The mirror reflective element has a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary reflector portion. The auxiliary reflector portion of the mirror reflective element includes a curved recess established at the second surface of the glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating. A reflector is established at the curved recess and a principal mirror reflector is established at the principal reflector portion. The mirror reflective element is supported at a side of a mirror back plate and an opposing side of the mirror back plate is configured for attaching the mirror back plate to a mirror actuator. The opposing side of the mirror back plate includes an attaching portion that snap attaches to the mirror actuator.
US08777423B2	Projector and program A projector includes a projection light source, a light-off detector that detects that the projection light source is shut off, and a relighting controller that carries out a relighting process for relighting the projection light source based on the detection performed by the light-off detector as a trigger.
US08777417B2	High-pressure discharge lamp, lamp unit, and projector-type image display apparatus A high-pressure discharge lamp comprising an arc tube, the arc tube including: a light-emitting part which is substantially ellipsoidal; and sealing parts which extend from either end of the light-emitting part and in which bases of electrodes are sealed, the arc tube enclosing 0.2 mg/mm3 to 0.4 mg/mm3 of mercury, the high-pressure discharge lamp having a power rating greater than 355 W and not greater than 600 W, wherein 5.4≦D≦5.8 and 3.1≦X≦D−2.3 when 355
US08777416B2	Polarization beam splitting element and image projection apparatus The polarization beam splitting element splits an entering beam according to polarization directions. The element includes, in order from a beam entrance side, an entrance side multi-layered film layer constituted by laminated multiple dielectric films, and a one-dimensional grating structure having a grating period smaller than a wavelength of the entering beam and formed of a metal. When a medium existing on the beam entrance side further than the entrance side multi-layered film layer is referred to as an entrance medium, the multiple dielectric films constituting the entrance side multi-layered film layer include at least one dielectric film having a higher refractive index than that of the entrance medium and at least one dielectric film having a lower refractive index than that of the entrance medium.
US08777414B2	Pupil dependent wavefront refraction A method of determining an ophthalmic prescription (Rx) for a patient's eye, includes obtaining a wavefront measurement of the patient's eye; determining a first Rx for the patient's eye from the wavefront measurement, the first Rx corresponding to a maximum value of a merit function calculated from the wavefront measurement of the patient's eye for a first size of the pupil of the patient's eye; determining one or more additional Rx's of the patient's eye for one or more additional pupil sizes different from the first pupil size, wherein each additional Rx is determined for a corresponding size by calculating a value of the merit function for the previously-calculated Rx at the corresponding size and searching for an Rx at the corresponding size that provides a larger value of the merit function than the previously-calculated Rx at the corresponding size; determining a final Rx based on the first Rx and the additional Rx's; and outputting the final Rx.
US08777410B2	Fundus photographing apparatus with wavefront compensation A fundus photographing apparatus with wavefront compensation, includes: a fundus photographing optical system for capturing a fundus image by receiving a reflected light from fundus of an examinee's eye; a wavefront compensation device placed in an optical path of the fundus photographing optical system to compensate a wavefront aberration of the examinee's eye by controlling an incident light wavefront; a wavefront aberration detection optical system for projecting a measurement light on the fundus of the examinee's eye to detect a reflected light of the measurement light from the fundus using a wavefront sensor; and a controller for controlling an effective region formed on the wavefront compensation device so as to correct a difference between the effective region formed on the wavefront compensation device where an aberration correction control is effective and a wavefront measurement region of the wavefront aberration detection optical system where the wavefront aberration is measured.
US08777409B2	System and method of surfacing a lens, such as a lens for use with eyeglasses A system and method of forming surfaces on eyeglass lenses is described. In some examples, the surface is a spherical, cylindrical or spherocylindrical surface at a center of the lens and an aspherical surface at a periphery of the lens. In some examples, forming the surface on the lens reduces the thickness of the lens at the periphery of the lens.
US08777405B2	Self-adhering visual stimulator A device for the stimulation of the visual system includes a body having a pair of spaced lobes configured to conform to the periocular region. The body has a first side and an opposed second side. The body second side has an adhesive layer for securing the body to the periocular region. A light emitting source disposed within each of the pair of lobes to selectively illuminate the periocular region.
US08777402B2	Inkjet recording device and method of releasing cover lock of inkjet recording device An inkjet recording device includes a carriage including a print head for firing ink droplets onto a recording medium from a nozzle; a carriage driving unit configured to drive the carriage; an openable cover configured to cover a moving area of the carriage; a cover lock member configured to lock the cover to a housing; a lock control unit configured to control lock and release of the lock of the cover by the cover lock member; a lock releasing unit configured to request the lock control unit to release the lock; and a carriage power control unit configured to control opening and closing of a power supplying path to the carriage driving unit. The lock control unit causes the cover lock member to release the lock if the lock releasing unit is operated and the carriage power control unit opens the power supplying path to the carriage driving unit.
US08777400B2	Liquid ejection device A liquid ejection device includes a transport unit, a medium support unit and a liquid ejection head. The medium support unit includes a plurality of first recesses and a plurality of second recesses arranged on a medium support surface along a width direction orthogonal to a transport direction. The first and second recesses are configured and arranged to be imparted with negative pressure. A width dimension of an opening of the first recess in the width direction is larger on the downstream side than on an upstream side. A width dimension of an opening of the second recess in the width direction is smaller than the width dimension of the opening of the first recess in the width direction on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction. The second recesses are configured and arranged to accept the liquid ejected toward the ejection medium from the liquid ejection head.
US08777396B2	System and method for imaging and evaluating printing parameters in an aqueous inkjet printer An aqueous inkjet printer is configured to evaluate and adjust multiple components within the printer with reference to image data of the surface of a rotating member obtained at different times during a single print cycle. The print cycle can be performed in a multiple pass manner to enable a single optical sensor to be used for generation of the image data. Alternatively, the print cycle can be performed in a single revolution of the rotating member and multiple optical sensors positioned about the rotating member to generate the image data.
US08777395B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a carriage that has a head ejecting liquid cured by receiving the irradiation of light and moves in a movement direction intersecting a transportation direction of a medium; a first irradiation section; a second irradiation section; and a controller that forms the image on the medium through performing an ejection operation ejecting the liquid from the head while moving the carriage in the movement direction and a transportation operation that transports the medium in the transportation direction, and performs control of the irradiation intensity of the light of the first irradiation section at the time of the ejection operation to regulate the surface condition of the image and to change the irradiation intensity of the light of the second irradiation section according to the irradiation intensity of the light of the first irradiation section.
US08777394B2	Inkjet printing using large particles A method of producing a print on paper includes drying a selected region of the paper to a moisture content not to exceed that of the paper equilibrated to 20% RH. Hydrophilic liquid is deposited in a selected fluid pattern on the selected region of the paper within 15 seconds after the completion of drying. The paper is charged so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the paper, and the discharged areas correspond to the selected fluid pattern. Charged dry ink having charge of the same sign as the charge in the charged areas is on the paper is deposited onto the paper in a dry ink pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern in the selected region. The dry ink is fixed to the paper.
US08777393B2	Ink jet recording method An ink jet recording method includes ejecting at least two color ink compositions onto a recording medium so as to be deposited one on another. When one ink composition is deposited to form a first image and then another ink composition is deposited to form a second image on the first image, the ink composition forming the second image has a higher yield value than the ink composition forming the first image.
US08777392B2	Inkjet ink and inkjet recording method Provided is an inkjet ink including at least water, a pigment, a resin, a water-soluble organic solvent, and a surfactant, wherein the resin consist of a copolymer resin synthesized from only a (meth)acrylic monomers, and the copolymer resin has an acid value of not less than 50 mgKOH/g and not more than 200 mgKOH/g, a glass transition temperature (Tg) not less than 20 and not more than 100° C., and a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) not less than 20,000 and not more than 100,000, and as a result, a high-quality image is formed in that abrasion resistance and adhesiveness on a non-absorptive recording medium are high, glossiness is high, and there is no ink mixing, and ejection performance is good and recovery through maintenance is excellent. Also provided is an inkjet recording method that uses the same.
US08777389B2	Image forming apparatus including recording head for ejecting liquid droplets An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a head tank, an exhaust unit, and a suctioning device. The head tank has liquid chambers with exhaust ports. The exhaust unit includes an exhaust channel connected to the suctioning device to exhaust air from the head tank, an exhaust chamber connected to the ports of the liquid chambers, a valve member to collectively open and close the ports, a valve driving chamber communicating with the exhaust channel and having a flexible member forming a wall face thereof, a valve driving member disposed at the flexible member to open and close the valve member, and a choke channel communicating the exhaust chamber with the valve driving chamber. When the suctioning device suctions air through the exhaust channel with the liquid being in the choke channel, a volume of the valve driving chamber contracts and the valve member opens the ports.
US08777385B2	Processes for delivering ink within a printing system A liquid ink container having mating features for self alignment with an ink delivery station. The ink delivery station includes a receiver with an actuated puncture ring. The liquid ink container includes a cap that is punctured by the ring to allow fluid flow from the container. The receiver and container also include means for introducing pressurized gas into the container to facilitate evacuation of liquid ink.
US08777379B2	Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, and piezoelectric element A liquid ejecting head includes a piezoelectric element having a first electrode, a piezoelectric body layer, and a second electrode, in which the piezoelectric body layer is formed of complex oxide of a pevroskite structure including at least bismuth, barium, iron, and titanium, and the mole ratio of titanium to barium (Ti/Ba) is 1.17 or more, and 1.45 or less.
US08777376B2	Skewed nozzle arrays on ejection chips for micro-fluid applications A micro-fluid ejection head has multiple ejection chips joined adjacently to create a lengthy array across a media to-be-imaged. The chips have fluid firing elements arranged along skewed fluid vias to enable seamless stitching of fluid ejections. The firing elements are energized to eject fluid and ones are spaced according to colors or fluid types. Overlapping firing elements serve redundancy efforts during imaging for reliable print quality. Variable chips sizes and shapes are disclosed as are relationships between differently colored fluid vias. Skew angles range variously each with noted advantages. Singulating chips from larger wafers provide still further embodiments.
US08777375B2	Printing system A printing system including a substrate support and an ink deposition unit. The ink distribution unit deposits liquid ink onto a substrate positioned on the substrate support. The system allows for relative movement between the substrate support and the ink deposition unit. After printing, the ink deposition unit rotates to be oriented with the longitudinal axis of the next image segment to be printed and wherein the rotation does not affect the image resolution. The system can print at least two axial images sharing at least one common image portion and having an angle between their longitudinal axes less than 90 degrees.
US08777374B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus including a main carriage to move and scan in a main scanning direction, a sub-carriage connectable to the main carriage to move and scan in the main scanning direction together with the main carriage, a positioning guide provided on one of the main carriage and the sub-carriage, and a position detector provided on the other one of the main carriage and the sub-carriage. The position detector reads the positioning guide as the main carriage and the sub-carriage connect to each other to detect relative positions of the main carriage and the sub-carriage.
US08777371B2	Maintenance device and liquid ejecting apparatus A maintenance device includes a liquid absorption body which absorbs a liquid which is attached to a nozzle forming surface by abutting the nozzle forming surface of a liquid ejecting head in which a plurality of nozzle rows configured of a plurality of nozzles ejecting the liquid are provided in parallel, wherein the liquid absorption body has a penetration suppressing section which suppresses the spread of the liquid due to penetration of the liquid absorbed from the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head, and wherein the penetration suppressing section is disposed between the nozzle rows ejecting the liquids of different colors from each other in a direction intersecting the nozzle row direction, in a case where the liquid absorption body abuts the nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejecting head.
US08777370B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus including a recording head having a nozzle surface on which multiple nozzles to eject droplets are arranged in a line; a suction device; and a cap to cover the nozzle surface of the recording head. The cap includes a suction hole to connect a space formed by the cap and the nozzle surface with the suction device; an air hole to connect the space with air; and an absorbent located inside the cap. The top surface of the absorbent is retracted from the contact portion of the cap to be contacted with the nozzle surface so that when the nozzle surface is capped with the cap, a flow passage is secured between the air hole to the suction hole without obstructed by the absorbent.
US08777363B2	Method for transporting a long medium A transport method for transporting a long medium in a recording apparatus is performed using a transport control section. The transport control section performs, in a case where a first motor and a second motor are driven so as to transport a long sheet to the downstream side in a transport direction, prescribed processing that is different from the processing in a case where the deflection amount of the sheet becomes equal to or greater than a reference amount, in a case where the deflection amount of the sheet between a shaft member and a sending roller in the transport direction does not become equal to or greater than the reference amount.
US08777356B2	Fluid discharge head semiconductor device, fluid discharge head, and fluid discharge apparatus A fluid discharge head semiconductor device, comprising a terminal unit including first pad group including a plurality of pads, a processing unit configured to process input information from the first pad group, a printing unit including a plurality of printing elements configured to discharge a printing material in accordance with a result of the processing, and an inspection output unit including second pad group including at least one pad and an output buffer unit, wherein the processing unit outputs information on an inspection of an operation to the inspection output unit, and the inspection output unit drives the output buffer unit to output the information to the second pad group when performing an inspection, and suppresses the driving of the output buffer unit when performing printing.
US08777354B2	Method for manufacturing printing device, printing device, and printing method A method for manufacturing a printing device, wherein the printing device uses ink including pigment ink and dye ink to form a printed image on a print medium, and discharges an ink quantity according to a voltage value of a drive voltage to form ink dots on the print medium. In this printing device, the voltage value of the drive voltage for creating ink dots is corrected.
US08777351B2	Print data generation apparatus and print data generation method An ink jet printing apparatus, for each level, employs a plurality of density patterns to prevent cancellation of a granularity reduction effect that has been provided by an increase in resolution. Specifically, when determining an arrangement of dot-on areas in the density pattern, the dot-on areas is not located in the areas of a first row of the each of the plurality of density patterns. Thereby, whitish areas appear with the same cycle as a use cycle of the density patterns in a longitudinal direction and thus the whitish areas is not unevenly located. As a result, granularity is prevented from increasing.
US08777349B2	Image forming apparatus including recording head for ejecting liquid droplets An image forming apparatus includes a recording head and a driving waveform generator. The recording head has a nozzle, a liquid chamber, and a pressure generator. The driving waveform generator is connected to the pressure generator to generate and output a driving waveform including a plurality of driving pulses per driving cycle to eject a droplet from the nozzle. A last one of the driving pulses includes a first expansion waveform element, a first retaining waveform element, a first contraction waveform element, a second retaining waveform element, a second contraction waveform element, a third retaining waveform element, and a second expansion waveform element. The first contraction waveform element has a potential difference greater than a potential difference of the first expansion waveform element. The second contraction waveform element has a time period longer than a time period of the first contraction waveform element.
US08777347B2	Liquid discharging apparatus, inspection method, and medium having recorded program A printer has a plurality of dischargers for discharging ink, a detector for detecting an electric signal SW, and an inspector unit for inspecting the dischargers on the basis of the electric signal SW; and a grounding terminal connecting a drive element of a discharger being inspected is electrically disconnected from another grounding terminal and a grounding line GL when the electric signal SW is detected by the detector.
US08777346B2	Ink-jet printing method and apparatus An ink-jet printing method includes the steps of dividing multiple ink droplet discharging pulses into two or more groups in an ink droplet discharging order, providing the multiple ink droplet discharging pulses to a pressure generator per scan line time, and discharging ink droplets from an ink droplet discharge head in accordance with the multiple ink droplet discharging pulses. The method further includes the steps of combining ink droplets of a former group as a first combined ink droplet, combining ink droplets of a latter group as a second combination droplet, combining the second combined ink droplet of the latter group with that of former group before the ink droplets reach a target, and maintaining a prescribed amount of ink droplets landing on the target by decreasing the number of ink droplet discharging pulses.
US08777341B2	Sliding shelves for refrigerators and freezers Sliding shelves (2a, 2b, 4a, 4b) are provided for refrigerators and freezers, which have a movement along side support guides (1) that enable the retracting, fitting and bounce of the shelves, allowing the choice of different configurations for the inner space of the household appliance, according to the area to be used to store food. This configuration enables different arrangement of shelves, including: extended shelves, retracted shelves, vertically bounced shelves, or even, in an associated form, an extended shelf and another bounced one.
US08777340B2	Pull-out guide for drawers A pull-out guide for drawers includes a body rail to be fastened to a furniture body and at least one pull-out rail that can be moved relative to the body rail. The guide also includes an adjustment device by which a position of a drawer that is connected or can be connected to the pull-out rail can be adjusted. The adjustment device includes at least one retaining pin that can be inserted in a provided borehole of the drawer and a bearing part mounted on the pull-out rail. The bearing part is arranged at the rear end of the pull-out rail and extends at a distance to an upper side of the pull-out rail in a substantially horizontal direction in the longitudinal direction of the pull-out rail, wherein the bearing part is mounted adjustably inside the retaining pin.
US08777339B2	Cabinets and mirrors selectively mounted on hinges supporting roomdoors on door frames, hinges for such mountings, and methods for so mounting A cabinet and a door are each provided with hinge sets having hinge parts secured thereto so that they can be separately mounted on the same hinge parts that are mounted on a door frame and are connected by a hinge pin for each hinge set that support the door on the door frame, using a single hinge pin for and as a part of each hinge set. With this mounting arrangement, the cabinet and the door of each such installation can move independently in an arc about the hinge pins connecting the door frame parts to the hinge parts fastened to the door and the hinge parts fastened to the cabinet without requiring the movement of the door concurrently with the movement of the cabinet.
US08777334B2	Control apparatus for vehicle In a control apparatus for a vehicle, a brake control unit includes: a master cylinder state variable detecting section configured to detect a master cylinder state variable related to a state of a master cylinder; a first regenerative braking force calculating section configured to calculate a first regenerative braking force when the master cylinder state variable detected by the master cylinder state variable detecting section is smaller than a predetermined state variable; a second regenerative braking force calculating section configured to calculate a second regenerative braking force when the master cylinder state variable detected by the master cylinder state variable detecting section is equal to or larger than a predetermined state variable; and a braking control section configured to calculate the liquid pressure braking force on a basis of at least one of the calculated first and second regenerative braking forces.
US08777333B2	Brake force generator for a motor vehicle brake system having a support device for a resetting spring A brake force generator for a motor vehicle brake system, comprises a displaceable force input element connected or connectable to a brake pedal, a control valve actuable in accordance with a displacement of the force input element, a chamber arrangement disposed in a booster housing and controllable by the control valve and comprises at least one vacuum chamber and at least one working chamber, which are separated from one another by at least one movable wall connected to the control valve, and a force output element for supplying a brake force to a downstream brake system, wherein the control valve with the force output element is biased by a resetting spring into a normal position, wherein the resetting spring is supported by its one end against the control valve. In this brake force generator, for improving the assembly properties it is provided that a support ring is provided, against which the resetting spring is supported by its other end, wherein the support ring may be brought into supportive interaction with the booster housing.
US08777332B2	Braking control system A braking control system comprising a first source of pressurized fluid (82a), a second source of pressurized fluid (82b), a modulator (70), a brake actuator (10), and a plurality of valves (84, 94, 96, 98), the modulator (70) having a supply inlet (72) which may be connected to either of the sources of pressurized fluid via a first fluid flow line which extends between a first one of the valves (84) and the supply inlet (72), and a control inlet (78) which may be connected to either of the sources of pressurized fluid via a second fluid flow line and a second one of the valves (94), a delivery port (74) which is connected an inlet (11) of the actuator (10), and an exhaust outlet (76) which vents to a low pressure region, the modulator (70) being operable to move between a build position in which flow of fluid from the supply inlet (72) to the delivery port (74) is permitted while flow of fluid through the exhaust outlet (76) is substantially prevented, and an exhaust position in which flow of fluid between the delivery port (74) and the exhaust outlet (76) is permitted, while flow of fluid through the supply inlet (72) is substantially prevented, wherein a portion of the fluid flow line connecting the second source of pressurized fluid (82b, 90) to the first valve (84) also provides a proportion of the connection between the second source of pressurized fluid (82b, 90) and the second valve (94).
US08777331B2	Brake booster A brake booster for use in a hydraulic braking system having a brake pedal, a master cylinder, and a hydraulic control unit includes a housing, a screw drive arrangement positioned at least partially in the housing, a motor coupled to the housing for actuating the screw drive arrangement, and a piston assembly positioned in the housing. The piston assembly and the housing together at least partially define a first fluid chamber having an opening for providing fluid communication with the master cylinder, and a second fluid chamber having an opening for providing fluid communication with the hydraulic control unit. The screw drive arrangement is movable relative to a piston of the piston assembly between an engaged position, in which the first fluid chamber is isolated from the second fluid chamber, and a disengaged position in which the first fluid chamber is not isolated from the second fluid chamber.
US08777327B1	Locking wheel nut cover A locking wheel nut cover system for controlling access to wheel nuts used to affix a wheel to a vehicle has a wheel with a wheel rim annular channel. The system has a wheel nut located on an axle stud for securing the wheel to the vehicle. The system has a generally planar round hub cover with a hub cover aperture for positioning in front of a wheel central hub to cover the wheel nuts. The system has a plurality of generally planar elongated locking arms, each having an elongated slot, and a locking arm second end for engaging the wheel rim annular channel. The system has a generally cylindrical keyed lock for engaging the locking arms and the hub cover to secure the system into place for wheel theft protection.
US08777325B2	Method for determining the position or situation of installation components in mineral mining installations and mining installation A method and apparatus for determining the position and/or situation of installation components of a mineral mining installation which has as installation components at least one face conveyor for removing mined material, one shield-type support for keeping a face open, pushing devices for pushing the face conveyor and the shield-type support in active operation, an extracting machine which can be moved along the face conveyor, and a drift conveyor, the position and situation of at least one installation component being determined by a measuring system having a detection unit with measurement sensor and the detection unit decoupled from the movement of the extracting machine, can be or is moved to and fro between two points of the guiding system along at least one installation component at the face such as, e.g. the face conveyor, by a separate guiding system 21; a mining installation relating to the same.
US08777320B2	Ventilation system The present invention is drawn to a ventilation system for a “climate object”, in particular all components with which the user of a vehicle may come in contact in a passenger compartment such as, for example, a steering mechanism for a vehicle, a dashboard, an armrest, a door paneling, a seat cover, a heating blanket, a padding, a cover or a seat, all which include at least one air flow device to guide air through the climate object.
US08777314B2	Vehicle seat fold mechanism A vehicle seat assembly has a seat base, a seat back pivotally connected to the seat base and being movable between an upright and a folded position, a spring member connected to the other of the seat base and the seat back, and a follower rotatably connected to the spring member. One of the seat base and the seat back define a cam surface. The spring member is compressed by the follower engaging the cam surface. The follower engages the cam surface when the seat back is in the folded position.
US08777313B2	Entertainment seat An entertainment seat (10) including a seat back (18) and seat base (24) having a seat architecture for providing structural support relative to a base (floor) and also having two seat motion actuators (92, 94) located toward the front of the seat (10) for providing seat movement in response to a seat motion control system (16) for operating the seat motion actuators (92, 94), the seat (10) also includes armrests (26, 28) which form a portion of the seat back (18).
US08777312B2	Seating apparatus with reclining movement The invention provides a seating apparatus having a reclining movement with a corresponding seat lift movement. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a seating apparatus comprising a base, a curved support bar pivotally connected to the base, a plurality of ramps attached to one of the curved support bar and the base, and a plurality of rollers attached to the other of the curved support bar and the base for interacting with the plurality of ramps. As a user reclines, the plurality of rollers operatively engage the plurality of ramps to lift the seat of the apparatus. The combination of the reclining movement with the corresponding seat lift movement is particularly beneficial for providing an increased level of user comfort throughout a range of seating positions.
US08777306B2	Combination foldable chair and rolling transport A foldable chair, operable between a seating configuration and a rolling transport configuration, the foldable chair comprising a plurality of legs with a roller secured to the distal end of each leg and the proximal end of each leg secured to a column base. Extending from the column base is a column with a first and second end, the column first end secured to the column base and the second end of the column secured to a first platform or seat cushion. A second platform extends downwardly from the first platform for attaching a carrying case. Also included is a backrest rotatably secured to the first platform such that when the backrest is perpendicular to the first platform two roller elements are fully shrouded. When the backrest is rotated 90 degrees and disposed substantially parallel to the seat cushion the roller elements are exposed for rolling contact with the ground surface.
US08777302B2	Sunshade apparatus There is provided a sunshade apparatus comprising a pair of guide rails, a screen to move along each guide rail, and a roll-up device to send off or roll up the screen. The roll-up device comprises a roll-up shaft having bending flexibility, a pair of end members disposed at both ends of the roll-up shaft, a pair of support members to support each end member, and an abutment member including a push-up portion to bend the roll-up shaft so as to protrude upward and a positioning portion to be disposed on the side of the opening relatively to the roll-up shaft to position the roll-up shaft. Each end member is formed so as to be movable relatively to each support member in an open-close direction when the opening is opened or closed by use of the screen.
US08777295B2	System for controlling an access opening in a body of a vehicle A system for controlling an access opening in a vehicle body includes first and second doors arranged to selectively open and close first and second portions of the opening. The system also includes first and second latches operatively connected to the first and second doors, respectively, and configured to selectively latch the first and second doors to and release the first and second doors from the body. The system additionally includes a device operatively connected to the first door and configured to be selectively retracted before at least one of the first and second doors is opened and protracted when the first and second doors are closed to seal the opening. Furthermore, the system includes a third latch operatively connected to one of the first and second doors and configured to selectively latch the first door to the second door and release the first and second doors.
US08777289B2	Apparatus attachment system A seat anchoring system that anchors seats in a seating arrangement in a vehicle is provided. The seat anchoring system includes a base and multiple fastening devices, where the fastening devices are attached to the base and extend away from an upper face of the base. The base has a shape similar to an inside configuration of a mounting rail such that the base is inserted into the mounting rail and positioned to any desirable location along the mounting rail. Further, the fastening devices extend through the mounting rail and attach the seat to the mounting rail.
US08777288B2	Folding roof rack for vehicle Disclosed is a roof rack for carrying cargo items with a pickup truck. The device comprises a load bar for supporting cargo items, a pair of telescoping uprights attached to the load bar, and a pair of mounts attached at a first end to the telescoping uprights, and to the side rails of the pickup truck at a second end. The load bar, telescoping uprights, and mounts are movable from an extended position to a folded position. This allows the uprights to be extended for use when carrying cargo items, and folded down for storage. The rack permits a user to transport large items with a pickup truck without requiring use of the pickup bed.
US08777285B1	Underwater cable capture and pass through device A cable capture/release (CCR) device defines an open slot and an annular channel. The CCR device is coupled to a housing at a first pivot point wherein the slot is maintained outside of the housing. A sliding coupler engages the annular channel and extends to an attachment point. A tow point on the housing and the attachment point are aligned along a line of force when the housing is towed, while the first pivot point is out of alignment with the line of force. A trigger is coupled to the housing at a second pivot point. A latch, coupled to the housing at a third pivot point, defines first and second latch elements. The first latch element engages a perimeter of the CCR device and the second latch element engages the trigger.
US08777284B2	Venturi assisted gripper A gripper system which utilizes two different suction systems is disclosed. This gripper system utilizes one suction system to pick up an item, while using the second suction system to hold the item. In some embodiments, a Venturi device based suction system is used as the first suction system to pick up the item, as this type of system is proficient at picking up items without requiring initial contact to create a seal. In some embodiments, a vacuum based system is used as the second suction system, as this type of system is able to hold items cost effectively.
US08777280B2	Electrically controlled lock for automated sliding type gates and control method for the same A lock device for sliding gates has a harpoon-type bolt element whose head enters a cavity of a keeper from a shaped hole, and is pushed inside a sleeve by a roto-translation that is controlled by a cam and tappet coupling until the system is locked Reverse motion is prevented by engagement between the anchor of a solenoid and an elongated cavity on the surface of the bolt shaft, however allowing the bolt to tolerate axial displacements from thermal changes or settlements. An unlock control logic allows release of the engagement via a European profile lock cylinder, a mechanical control remotely operated through a Bowden wire, or an electrically controlled solenoid. The control logic ensures the system operation follows the correct direction of motion of a cyclic state machine, to provide proper synchronization with the operation of the gate automation.
US08777273B2	Structure for a nested dual drill pipe joint A dual drill pipe joint includes a pin end and a box end. An inner pipe is disposed within an internal bore of the joint of drill pipe. A retainer is disposed proximate each longitudinal end of the inner pipe. A retaining feature is formed in an interior of the joint of drill pipe proximate each longitudinal end. The features are configured to engage a respective one of the retainers so that the inner pipe is held in longitudinally fixed relation to the joint of drill pipe.
US08777267B2	Device for adjusting the position of a steering column in an automobile According to the disclosure, the steering column comprises a steering shaft rotatingly mounted in a tube-body provided on a side mount of a fixed bearing assembly via a lateral mechanism. The column can be adjusted in height and/or depth by an axis clamping system with a clamping rod (interacting with the lateral mechanism. The lateral mechanism comprises a bearing member provided between the side mount and a side member of the tube-body. A cross-section arranged between the bearing member and the side member enables counter-rotation. The lateral mechanism includes a system for adjusting the sliding clearance on the clamping rod using a bearing member and an adjustable clamping head.
US08777265B2	Steering device for motor vehicles A steering device for a motor vehicle has a steering wheel which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to a steering shaft which is continuously hollow and through which at least an electrical conductor is led in order to make electrical connection with steering-wheel-side equipment. The conductor, in particular flexible conductor tracks, highly flexible cables, and/or flat conductor ribbons, is guided in an axial direction through the entire steering shaft, and emerges therefrom at the two ends of the steering shaft, and is surrounded essentially by a protective device. The protective device has two protective tubes which can be changed in length in the axial direction, in particular by moving them in and out in a telescopic fashion.
US08777260B2	Airbag unit comprising a holding device for a tension element An airbag unit with an airbag (10) encloses a gas compartment, an inflator, and a housing (20) containing the folded airbag. A holding device (40) having a first and a second section (42, 44) is provided, the first section (42) is connected to the housing (20), and the second section (44) can be detached from, the first section (42) upon an electrical signal. The holding device detachably fastens a tensioning element, whose first end is connected to the airbag, and its second end is connected to the housing (20) via the holding device (40) when the first and second sections (42 or 44) are connected. The holding device second section (44) is arranged inside the gas compartment, and a hole (13) is provided in the airbag (10), through which an ignition cable plug socket, an ignition lead (50) or the holding device first section (42) protrudes.
US08777256B2	Folded airbag for a motor vehicle A folded airbag for a motor vehicle, which can be inflated in case of a crash, has a first rolled folding created by rolling up a first airbag section, and a second rolled folding created by rolling up a second airbag section. The spatial directions, along which the two airbag sections are rolled up to form a rolled folding, are oriented at an angle to each other.
US08777255B2	Safety trailer The present invention is directed to differing embodiments of safety trailers, which have first and second platforms and a safety wall positioned therebetween. The platforms and safety wall define an area protected from vehicular incursions.
US08777249B1	Hand motion wheelchair assembly A wheelchair assembly for propelling a wheelchair is provided. The wheelchair has front wheels and rear wheels and a pair of armrests. The wheelchair assembly comprises a first gear wheel secured to each rear wheel and a second gear wheel secured to each armrest. The second gear wheel is positioned directly over the first gear wheel with the second gear wheel being completely encased by a cover. A chain is secured over and between the first and second gear wheels and extends from an opening in the cover. Rotatable handles are attached to each armrest with each having a grasping portion extending Upward. A control linkage extends between the handles and the second gear wheels and mounted to and under the armrest such that rotation of the handles also rotates the second gear wheels with the control linkage being perpendicular to the line formed between the first and second gear wheels.
US08777239B2	Scooter assemblies and scooter deck assemblies A deck assembly for a scooter comprises a deck and at least one grind stripe. The deck has a front end, a rear end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the deck defines at least one longitudinal mating recess. The grind stripe has a mating protrusion, a substantially flat mating surface, and a grinding surface. The grind stripe is slidably attachable to the deck such that the mating protrusion is disposed in the longitudinal mating recess and the mating surface of the grind stripe mates with the bottom surface of the deck. A scooter deck assembly comprises a deck and an angled front plug. The deck has a front end, a rear end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. The angled front plug is attached to the front end of the deck such that the front plug extends substantially beyond the front end of the deck.
US08777235B2	Braking mechanism for roller skates A roller skate device, including: at least one skate wheel. A cradle including a control wire. And a lever system coupled to the control wire, the lever system including at least one brake wheel that applies a braking force to the at least one skate wheel based on the motion of the cradle translated through the control wire.
US08777233B2	Diaphragm chuck A diaphragm chuck with an operating element inserted in a chuck body and axially movable in relation to the chuck body, a diaphragm attached to a free end of the operating element with the diaphragm secured to the chuck body by its outer circumference, three base jaws in driving connection with the diaphragm, on each of which a centering surface is disposed in a concentric alignment with the axis of the operating element, three clamping jaws attached to the corresponding base jaws, by which a gear to be machined can be clamped and which make contact with the centering surface, and clamping pins, each allocated to one of the clamping jaws, radially aligned and arranged between two teeth of the gear in the clamped condition, such that the diaphragm chucks reliably clamps differently sized gears and gears with different numbers of teeth between the three clamping jaws.
US08777231B2	Chuck A chuck for use with a driver having a rotatable drive shaft, the chuck including a body having a nose section and a tail section, the tail section being configured to rotate with the drive shaft and the nose section having an axial bore. A plurality of jaws is movably disposed with respect to the body and in communication with the axial bore. A first sleeve is rotatably mounted to the body in operative communication with the jaws so that rotation of the sleeve moves the jaws either toward a longitudinal center axis of the axial bore or away from the longitudinal center axis. A second sleeve is rotatably mounted to the body and is movable between a first position in which the second sleeve is rotatably fixed to the body and a second position in which the second sleeve is rotatable about the body. The second sleeve moves in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the axial bore when moving between the first position and the second position.
US08777230B2	Device for securing a tool to a spindle A tool securing device capable of clamping a tool to a machine spindle as well as assisting in the removal of a tool from a machine spindle, all in a tool-less manner. The tool securing device includes distal means to be releasably gripped by a machine draw bar as well as means to releasably engage a tool.
US08777225B2	Playing cards A deck of playing cards wherein at least one card comprises a base layer that bears a front surface and a back surface and a substantially planar holographic optical element that is operatively configured to form a holographic image, the holographic optical element disposed at or towards a surface that is selected from the front and back surfaces the at least one card characterized in that the holographic optical element is of a type that is substantially transparent and manufactured to substantially prevent said holographic image from being viewed in a first range of directions with respect to the selected surface and to substantially enable said holographic image to be viewed from a second range of directions that are outside of the first range.
US08777224B2	System and methods for dealing a video card A physical device that triggers a deal of a video card is described. The physical device triggers the deal when a subject moves an object of the subject on the physical device.
US08777221B2	Device and method for processing printing products The printing products (24) are supplied to the discharge station (16) by receiving elements (32) of the processing device (12). The discharge station has on the one hand a removal conveyor (18) and on the other hand a clamp transporter (20) arranged downstream with respect to the removal conveyor in the direction of circulation (U) of the receiving elements (32). The gripper tongs (22) of the removal conveyor (18) grip the printing products (24) at the side rim (26) and discharge the printing products from the receiving elements (32). The respectively trailing wall (36) of each receiving element (32) is provided with a guide element (50) which respectively supports the printing product (24) in question and introduces the printing product into an opened clamp (28) of the clamp transporter (20). The clamps (28) grasp the printing products (24) at the edge (30) with which the printing products (24) previously rested against the floor (42) of the receiving elements (32).
US08777218B2	Media processor A media processor is provided with includes a conveyance channel over which a paper sheet-like medium is conveyed, and an accumulation mechanism which accumulates the medium sent from the conveyance channel, the accumulation mechanism including a guide member for guiding and accumulating the medium sent from the conveyance channel and a conveyor for catching the medium guided by the guide member against the guide member to draw the medium onto the guide member. It is thus possible to shorten times required for the preparing operation to accumulate bills and for the bill accumulating operation, and further to prevent mechanical malfunction such as bill jamming from occurring.
US08777211B2	Paper output mechanism A paper outputting mechanism includes a paper tray for receiving a paper, a paper drive device located above the paper tray, and a paper outputting device engaged with the paper drive device. The paper outputting device includes a drive wheel and a belt surrounding the drive wheel. The belt includes a touching portion. The paper outputting device is moveable by the paper pickup arm, so that the touching portion completely abuts the paper.
US08777210B2	Image formation device An image formation device is configured such that a length of a sheet feed path from a sheet accommodation unit to a sheet detection unit is greater than the sheet distance for a predetermined type sheet that has substantially the same sheet length as a maximum size sheet employable in the image formation unit. A sheet length of the sheet fed by the sheet feed mechanism is measured. If the sheet length of a firstly fed sheet, which is fed in response to an image formation instruction and measured by the measuring unit, is equal to the sheet length of the predetermined type of sheet, the control unit feeds a subsequent sheet with the sheet distance corresponding for the maximum size sheet between a trailing end of the previously fed sheet and the leading end of the subsequent sheet.
US08777208B2	Image forming apparatus, image forming method, image forming program, and recording medium An image forming apparatus includes a feeding delay control unit to control a delay in feeding image formation media to a conveying unit and a counting unit to count a number of image formation media discharged to a discharge tray. When a count value of the counting unit reaches a threshold, the feeding delay control unit causes a feeding unit to switch a feeding mode from a small spacing mode, in which a next image formation medium is fed while a previously-fed image formation medium is on a conveying path, to a large spacing mode, in which an image formation medium is fed after a previously-fed image formation medium is discharged from the conveying path. When a number of image formation media on which images have been formed is smaller than a upper limit, the feeding mode is returned from the large spacing mode to the small spacing mode.
US08777205B2	Pipe vise stands and components for increasing capacity thereof A pipe vise stand and system for increasing the size capacity of the pipe vise stand are described. Upon incorporation of the system in a pipe vise stand, the stand can accommodate pipes of significantly larger diameter. The system includes a pipe support member which is configured to be positioned on a vise base of the stand. The system also includes a jackscrew extender that provides or relocates a jackscrew associated with the stand to a lateral position alongside the stand. Related provisions and methods are also described.
US08777204B2	Cutting support A cutting support including a first section and a second section. The first section has a top side with at least two recesses extending into the first section from the top side. A first one of the recesses has a first shape. A second one of the recesses has a different second shape. The first shape comprises a generally semi-circular section. The second shape comprises at least one generally right-angle corner. The second section is connected to the first section for connecting the cutting support to another member.
US08777193B2	Vibration isolation fastener insert A vibration isolation fastener insert comprising: a rigid cylindrical hub having an externally extending flange and a through longitudinal opening to receive a fastener. An elastomeric bushing around the hub has a slot therein receiving the external flange. An upper housing is disposed around the side of the bushing and has a flange over the top of the bushing. A lower housing is disposed around the external side of the upper housing and has a flange extending below a lower surface of the bushing.
US08777192B2	Three point supporting bush type hydromount A hydromount absorbs and alleviates vibration of driving components such as an engine, a power train, a transmission, and the like of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a three point supporting hydromount in which inner pipes are disposed in a horizontal direction of a vehicle frame.
US08777190B2	Wet scrubber tray An improved wet scrubber tray provides increased resistance to vibration-induced cracking. The self-supporting tray eliminates wastage of raw material, and additional internal stiffeners added to the tray make multiple intermediate stiffeners. The connection of the intermediate stiffeners to the perforated bottom plate is changed to eliminate the shop weld in the bottom plate. The holes in the perforated bottom plate are moved away from the boundaries of the tray to reduce their influence on boundary conditions. Trays are held down by plate material that is attached to the support grid, but not to the trays. Three field welds are applied to the sides of each tray to hold the trays in place relative to each other and are strategically placed to allow adjacent side stiffeners to act together as a composite section. Elastomeric material is used at the tray-to-grid attachments increases the damping of the system.
US08777189B2	Method and apparatus for treating fluids to reduce microbubbles Versions of the invention include methods for reducing microbubbles in liquids treated by heat or mass exchange devices. The exchange devices may be conditioned by having gases in crevices and surfaces displaced by a liquid. The methods can be used to prepare liquids with reduced numbers of microbubbles.
US08777177B2	Hydraulic fluid actuated equipment leveling assembly A hydraulic fluid actuated equipment leveling assembly incorporating a plenum having adjustment ports; an input channel opening the plenum; a disk valve operable for opening and closing the adjustment ports; telescoping and hydraulic ram actuated equipment support pedestals; hydraulic lines spanning between the plenum's adjustment ports, and the pedestal's hydraulic rams; and fluid displacing plungers connected operatively to the hydraulic lines for adjusting the hydraulic line's interior volumes.
US08777174B2	Laptop computer support A laptop computer support platform for resting a portable personal computer on. The computer support platform having a non-rigid base structure having one or several risers to establish an air gap between the non-rigid base and the laptop computer. The air gap acts as an insulating medium and contributes to a thermal cooling effect of the laptop computer.
US08777173B2	Holding apparatus A holding apparatus for removably holding an article has a base, a slider, and an urging member. The base has a stationary holding part provided on one end side of a placement part, and an operating button supported to be capable of swinging through a pivot part. The slider has a movable holding part for holding an article together with the stationary holding part, and a teeth part being provided following a sliding direction. The operating button has an operating part on one end side of the pivot part, and a claw part provided on the other end side for coupling and decoupling with the teeth part of the slider. The operating button is constantly urged by an urging spring so that sliding of the slider is restricted in a state in which the claw part is coupled with the teeth part. The coupling is released by an operation opposing the urging force of the operating part so that the slider is allowed to slide against the urging force of the urging member.
US08777168B2	Support structure for protective wear A support apparatus has a base having at least one portion positioned to rest on a solid surface, at least one vertical support extending upwards from the base, the vertical support having a lower fixed portion and an upper adjustable portion, at least one horizontal support extending outwards from the vertical support, the horizontal support positioned to be insertable into a protective garment while being worn by a user.
US08777166B2	Modular optical box A modular, self-contained optical box is provided. The optical box has a back plate fixedly attached to a front wall. Optical sensors, such as infrared cameras, visible cameras and optical pointers, are fixedly attached to the front wall and the back plate. Distal, round ends of the optical sensors are captured by translation plates. Each translation plate is capable of moving the distal end of the optical element in two directions to or in a planar fashion to align the optical element to the optical box, or to adjust the line of sight of the optical sensors relative to the optical box, before securing the distal end of the optical element. The optical box is designed to be incorporated into a gimbal, and the front wall forms a part of an outer housing of the gimbal. In one embodiment, the optical box is rotatable about one axis relative to the gimbal.
US08777161B2	Lightweight blast mitigating composite panel Lightweight blast mitigating composite panels (10) include a first glass composite shell (14; 152), an intermediate, preferably honeycomb layer (56; 156), a reinforcing layer (60; 160), an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber (UHMWPE) layer (64; 164) and a second glass composite shell (15; 168) adhered together with fire resistant adhesive layers (54; 58, 63, 66; 154, 158, 163, 166). The UHMWPE layer (64; 164) includes top and bottom coatings (70, 71) of fire resistant thermoset plastic preferably in the form of a paste. The panels (10) have use in a wide range of applications including in a blast mitigating overhead storage bin (100). The storage bin (100) includes a main body portion (133) defining a storage area formed from composite unarmored and armored panel segments (137, 138; 128-132). The unarmored and armored panel segments (137, 138; 128-132) share first and second shells (14, 15) to form an integral main body portion, with the armored panel segments (128-132) providing blast protection between the storage area and a wall (125) of an airplane cabin (120).
US08777158B2	Joint sealing system A method and apparatus comprises a first section, a second section, and a middle section. The first section is configured to be connected to a first structure. The second section is configured to be connected to a second structure. The first structure and the second structure are connected to each other at a joint. The middle section is located between the first section and the second section. The middle section has a length that is configured to change in response to a movement between the first structure and the second structure. The first section, the middle section, and the second section form a cover that is configured to form a seal for the joint.
US08777151B2	Method for connecting a tension-torsion strap An apparatus may comprise a housing, a first member, and a second member. The housing may have a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an opening located in the first end, and a passage extending from the opening. The first member may extend from the first side. The first member may have a first channel in communication with the passage and the channel has a first center axis. The second member may extend from the first side. The second member may have a second channel in communication with the passage and the second channel has a second center axis substantially aligned with the center axis of the channel in the first member.
US08777147B2	Seat belt device A seat belt device includes a spindle 11 for retracting a seat belt 13, an electric actuator 55, a pre-tensioner 14 and a power transmission mechanism 20, wherein the power transmission mechanism 20 can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator 55 and the spindle 11 before the pre-tensioner 14 is activated, while when the pre-tensioner 14 is activated, the power transmission mechanism 20 non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator 55 and the spindle 11.
US08777146B2	Dual-bearing reel A dual-bearing reel includes a reel unit, a spool, a handle, a clutch mechanism, a clutch operation member, a clutch return mechanism, and a clutch control mechanism. The clutch control mechanism includes a clutch plate that moves in conjunction with movement of the clutch operation member from the on position to the off position and causes the clutch operation member to move from the off position to the on position in conjunction with the operation of the clutch return mechanism. The clutch operation member includes a contact portion at which the clutch operation member contacts at least first end surfaces of the clutch plate. The contact portion includes a first contact portion that is urged to the side of the reel unit by the clutch plate when the clutch operation member is moved from the off position to the on position by the clutch plate.
US08777144B2	Installation for preparing wood fibers for a cultivation substrate The installation comprises a defibration sheath with an inlet for wood chips, an outlet for fibers, and two parallel rotative screws. The screws mesh with each other via their respective threads, which have at least an upstream and a downstream series of segments, with a drive upstream zone having forward threads, and a braking downstream zone having reverse threads with notches that are smaller in the braking downstream zone of the downstream series than in the braking downstream zone of the upstream series. The number of notches per thread in each braking zone is 2 to 6, and the section-to-output ratio RSO of the sum of the sections of the notches of a thread of the braking downstream zone of the downstream series to the fiber output rate is 60 mm2/m3h−1 to 80 mm2/m3h−1.
US08777141B2	Roller mill A roller mill, particularly an air swept roller mill of the LOESCHE type. The roller mill is preferably provided for the comminution of cement clinker or granulated blast furnace slag and comprises on a grinding track of a rotating grinding pan stationary, rotating grinding rollers and between the grinding rollers stationary, rotatable preparation rollers which compress and remove air from the grinding bed. In order to increase the efficiency of the grinding process and at the same time to reduce the energy requirement the position of the preparation rollers is changed in such a way that the grinding material fed spirally to the grinding rollers is completely rolled over and compressed by the previously arranged preparation rollers. The preparation rollers are, seen in a top view of the grinding pan, positioned radially in the direction of the grinding pan center and roll with their running surfaces on a smaller running ring than the associated grinding rollers.
US08777140B2	Adjustable food processor with guide ramp A food processor includes a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting blade. A rotating disk is adjustable relative to the blade assembly to vary the thickness of the food items cut by the blade assembly. A mounting arm is positioned below the cutting blade and has a ramp defined therein. The food processor includes an adjustment assembly operable to move the rotating disk relative to the cutting blade.
US08777138B2	Overload fault condition detection system for article destruction device An article destruction device includes an electric motor driving at least one moving component. An indication panel includes at least three visual indicators situated in sequence. Each visual indicator is associated with a stage of an approaching overload (motor cool down) condition. A first visual indicator lights when the motor or corresponding sensor temperature is below a first threshold, i.e., when the device is first powered on. A second indicator lights when the temperature exceeds the first threshold and is below at least a second threshold, i.e., the temperature is approaching a fault condition. A last visual indicator lights when the temperature exceeds the first and the at least second thresholds, i.e., the fault condition is met. A thermistor on the motor energizes (self-heats) with the motor. A thermostatic switch controls current flow through windings of the motor depending on measured temperatures meeting operating and equilibrium temperature thresholds.
US08777137B2	Grinder unit and method for controlling it A grinder unit (2) includes an electrical grinder motor (20), a current sensing device for measuring the current (32) used by the grinder motor (20), and a control device (16) for controlling the activity of the grinder motor (20). The control device (16) is configured to change the activity of the grinder motor (20) on the basis of the measured current (32) of the grinder motor (20).
US08777133B2	Irrigation system for small fields An irrigation system and method for irrigating a field including a plurality of towers linked together by at least one rotatable torque tube. Each of the towers may comprise a frame, one or more wheels on which the frame may travel, a rotatable reel, and a line configured to be spooled onto the reel. A motor may be configured to rotate the torque tube, which may in turn actuate each of the reels to rotate simultaneously. One end of each of the lines may be anchored at a first location and the towers may be located at a second location. Rotation of the reels spools the lines onto the reels and thereby actuates the towers to travel from the second location to the first location. The irrigation system also comprises hoses to link one or more fluid-emitting devices positioned on each of the towers with a water source.
US08777131B2	Springless shut-off valve for liquid sprayers A springless valve that is used for a liquid sprayer has a body that has an upstream bore that has three parts with increasingly larger cross-sections. A pin portion of a slide/pin combination moves between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, liquid in the first part of the upstream bore flows into inlets in the third part of the upstream bore, through a central passage, to an outlet to a downstream bore. A linearly-moving slide portion on the slide/pin combination fits within a recess in the body, and has resilient arms that engage front and rear radial faces on a narrowed waist on the pin. The arms extend over opposed sides of the narrowed waist, have tangs that lock onto a lower side of that waist, and rigidly connect the slide portion to the pin portion, enabling a user to move the slide/pin combination axially between the open and closed positions.
US08777130B2	Dipole triboelectric injector nozzle The present invention relates to a fuel injector configuration that treats a dielectric fluid such as gasoline fuel with strong electric and, optionally, magnetic fields to form a homogeneous charged fuel or fuel/air mixture for combustion in an internal combustion engine. The electric field is supplied by a triboelectric dipole and the magnetic field is supplied by permanent magnets. Small charged fuel particles are produced and combust more readily than untreated particles. Fuel efficiency is increased and emissions are reduced.
US08777129B2	Apparatus and process for formation of laterally directed fluid jets A processing apparatus is provided to process a workpiece. The processing apparatus can have a low-profile nozzle system capable of navigating through spaces in order to process target regions with relatively small clearances. A fluid jet outputted from the nozzle system is used to cut, mill, or otherwise process the target region of the workpiece.
US08777128B2	Device for spray applications including at least one cleaning port An exemplary device for spray applications includes a nozzle configured to emit a first fluid stream in a downstream direction away from the nozzle. At least one feed port situated near the nozzle introduces an agent into the first fluid stream to be carried by the first fluid stream in the downstream direction. At least one cleaning port situated near the nozzle emits a second fluid stream in a generally upstream direction toward at least one of the nozzle or the feed port.
US08777121B2	Lap joint A rail joint bar for use in an insulated lap joint assembly includes a longitudinal extending body defining a plurality of holes therein for receiving fasteners. The body has a first end and a second end positioned at opposite ends of the body relative to a longitudinal direction of the body. The body is bent forming a first portion adjacent to the first end, a second portion adjacent to the second end and spaced from the first portion in the longitudinal direction, and an intermediate portion defined therebetween and positioned between the first and second ends. The first portion and the second portion are substantially parallel to each other and, and the intermediate portion of the body is configured to accommodate an increase in thickness of a web section at a point where two railroad rails are joined.
US08777111B2	Power supply for a chip card There is provided a chip card that is configured to be inserted into a host device. An exemplary chip card comprises a microcontroller that includes a processor and a memory unit. The microcontroller is connected to a power terminal of the chip card for receiving power from a first power supply of the host device. The chip card also comprises a second power supply configured to at least temporarily supply power to a first component of the microcontroller.
US08777110B2	Multi-pack gift card and activation thereof Methods and apparatus for providing multiple transaction cards in a single package are described. According to one aspect, a carrier package arrangement includes a holder and a plurality of transaction cards. The transaction cards are retained on the holder, and are arranged to be transitioned form an unactivated state to an activated state using a first activation code. The carrier package arrangement can also include a case that can contain the holder and the plurality of transaction cards.
US08777105B2	Imaging reader with asymmetrical magnification A solid-state imager is mounted in a reader, such as a bi-optical, dual window, point-of-transaction workstation, for capturing light along an optical axis over a field of view from coded indicia. An optical assembly including non-rotationally symmetrical optics is operative for optically modifying and asymmetrically magnifying an image of the indicia and the field of view of the imager along mutually orthogonal directions generally perpendicular to the optical axis, and for increasing resolution of the imager along one of the directions. Preferably, the non-rotationally symmetrical optics includes a cylindrical lens having an aspherical profile along the one direction, and a planar profile along the other of the directions.
US08777103B2	Automatic dispensing machine and method of operation A dispensing machine, and related operating method, includes a device for dispensing packaged and/or unpackaged edible goods or beverages, a control unit connected to one or more electrically-activated parts of the machine, a user interface to show information to the user and retrieve input commands from the user to be sent to the control unit. The user interface is a graphic user interface GUI comprising a touch-panel integrated in a graphic screen to display multimedia content. The content or form of the information shown on the screen is changed by the control unit based on at least one parameter related to any of the operative status of the machine, the location wherein the machine is running, the calendar date and/or the daily time, statistics indicative of previous selections made by user(s), or the signal provided by at least one sensor of the machine detecting proximity of the user(s).
US08777102B1	Information processing using machine-readable codes Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for accessing, using an image capture device, a machine-readable code, the machine-readable code describing one or more rules that instruct a user device to determine whether the user satisfies one or more criteria; processing the machine-readable code to obtain the one or more rules; determining, based on the one or more obtained rules, that the user satisfies the one or more criteria; in response to determining, based on the one or more obtained rules, that the user satisfies the one or more criteria, displaying, on a display screen of the user device, data confirming that the user satisfies the one or more criteria.
US08777097B2	Set of blanks, box and box production method The invention relates to a set (22) of blanks for forming a packaging box, a method and a corresponding box. The set includes two corrugated board blanks, namely: a first blank (2′) including flaps connected to one another by first fold lines (9′), one side of said blank having no folds; and a second blank (12′) including panels (13′, 14′, 15′, 16′) connected to one another by third fold lines (19′), the panels of the second blank being stacked respectively on the part of the first blank having no folds. Two non-adjacent flaps (3′, 5′) of the first blank are glued to two respective facing panels (13′, 15′) of the second blank, thereby preventing the relative movement thereof during folding or during the formation of the box when the blanks are wound around a volume having pre-determined dimensions. At least two-thirds of the third fold lines (19′) of the second blank are substantially aligned in relation to the first fold lines of the first blank, the lower part (23) of one or more of said third lines including a cut or collapsed portion opposite the corresponding first fold line.
US08777092B2	Reusable gift wrap A flexible sheet that may be used and reused as a user-friendly and environmentally conscious wrapping material is presented. The sheet has a first corner, a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner, wherein the first corner and the second corner are connected by a first edge of the sheet and the third corner and the fourth corner are connected by a second edge of the sheet. The first corner and the second corner wrap around an object to enclose the object, and the third corner and the fourth corner wrap around the object, the first corner, and the second corner. A decorative bow is integrated with the sheet.
US08777091B2	Light emitting member mounting method and apparatus A light emitting member mounting method includes: causing a friction material to contact a substrate including at least an optical waveguide member mounted on a base and to contact a light emitting member that is to be mounted to the substrate and that is equipped with a light emitting component, so as to suppress relative movement between the substrate and the light emitting member using frictional force exerted on the substrate and the light emitting member, and positionally aligning the light emitting member to the substrate by employing light emitted from the light emitting component; and bonding the substrate and the light emitting member together by melting a bonding material interposed between the substrate and the light emitting member.
US08777086B2	Image-assisted system for adjusting a bonding tool A bonding tool is adjusted to a desired operational position by viewing the bonding tool with an image-capturing device and displaying an image of the bonding tool as viewed by the image-capturing device onto a display screen. A corresponding image of a reference bonding tool showing the desired operational position of the bonding tool is superimposed onto the display screen and the position of the bonding tool is adjusted with an adjustment mechanism until the bonding tool as viewed by the image-capturing device is aligned with the superimposed image of the reference bonding tool.
US08777082B2	Surgical instrument with replaceable loading unit A surgical stapling device has an elongated body and a removable loading unit and a securing structure for securing the loading unit onto the elongated body. A guiding ramp guides the movement of the loading unit as it is mounted onto the loading portion. The locking structure has a first position for locking movement of the loading unit and enabling firing rod to engage the loading unit. The locking unit has a second position for allowing the loading unit to be disengaged and removed from the device.
US08777081B2	Power tool with an automatic nail-feeding mechanism An automatic nail-feeding mechanism for a power tool having a striking assembly having a striking rod movable in a linear reciprocating manner feeds a nail to be struck to a front end of the striking rod. The automatic nail-feeding mechanism has a driving part movable between a first position and a second position in a direction of a reciprocating motion of the striking rod and a nail-storing element is provided with nails arranged at a fixed pitch, the nail-storing element being fed a distance of the fixed pitch towards the striking rod when the driving part moves from the first position to the second position and then from the second position to the first position in a stroke of the reciprocating motion thereof.
US08777073B2	Headrest hat coat hook hanger A headrest hat hook hanger that mounts to the side of headrest post with a clamp bracket that stand up and holds the double hat coat hook on the side wall of the headrest to hang hats, caps, and coats from the side of the headrest seat inside a vehicle.
US08777071B2	Spare wheel storage assembly for a vehicle A unit for picking up and lowering a spare wheel on a vehicle. In one implementation the unit comprises a main shaft, a mechanism with a shaft of rotation for winding or releasing the cable, which is connected at one end to the main shaft, and at the other to the mechanism, a safety actuator that acts on the main shaft and is connected to the mechanism by a connection means. A drive means connects the mechanism and the connection means, and cooperates with the safety actuator, releasing it, in a combined rotation and displacement movement.
US08777070B2	Spare tire carrier A spare tire carrier is provided. The spare tire carrier includes a mounting assembly and a support assembly that cooperate to carry a spare tire. The mounting assembly is configured for releaseably connecting the spare tire carrier to a vehicle. The support assembly is configured for supporting the spare tire regardless of whether the spare tire has a rim or is rimless. The spare tire carrier may also include a hinged bracket that allows the spare tire carrier to be placed in a down position to allow the driver to access engine components.
US08777068B2	Nestable hanger with hook insert A garment hanger is disclosed having a hook insert therein wherein the hook may be inserted into the body of its hanger to facilitate the nesting of one hanger with the other like hanger.
US08777063B2	System and method for releasably coupling a fluid dispenser to a dispensing system A system and method for releasably coupling a fluid dispenser to a structure. There is a push to connect-pull to disconnect connector system that has first and second mating connectors. A first connector is mounted to the dispenser and a second connector is mounted to the structure. The connector system accomplishes both mechanical and electrical interconnection between the dispenser and the structure.
US08777061B1	Safety closure for container A security cap includes a cap body having a base portion and an upstanding wall extending longitudinally upward from a top edge thereof. An actuator is assembled within an interior of the upstanding wall, the actuator being longitudinally movably and axially rotatable enabling cycling between a locked state and an unlocked state. The actuator is rotationally governed by a rotation locking member comprising a push button and an arched biasing member. The push button extends through an aperture provided in the actuator and engages with a vertical edge integrated along a recess formed within the upstanding wall. Vertical motion is governed by a projecting locking feature extending from the actuator. The locking feature engages with a actuation governing edge in a locked state and rotates free of the governing edge into an unlocked, dispensing state, enabling vertical motion of the actuator for dispensing contents from with the container.
US08777060B2	Discharger for side-secured bag spout A bag spout retainer apparatus for a bulk bag discharger is the disclosure of the type wherein a frame suspends a bulk bag with a side-secured discharge spout, and the spout is held in a closed position against the bag. A bag-engaging member is mounted on the frame in a position laterally-displaced from a lower end of the bag above the discharge spout. A reciprocating driver is attached to the bag-engaging member and is adapted for moving the bag-engaging member between a retracted position out of engagement with the lower end of the bag and an extended bag engaging position for engaging and holding the bag spout in a closed position against the side of the bag during release of the spout against the side of the bag.
US08777057B2	Pressure vessel, system and/or method for dispensing a comestible mixture A pressure vessel, a system and/or a method dispense a comestible mixture. The pressure vessel, the system and/or the method are used to cool, freeze and/or entrain a gas into the comestible mixture before dispensing the same. The pressure vessel may have a lid and a body that are connected to form an air-tight compartment. The compartment is sized to receive a deformable bag of the comestible mixture. The bag has an opening to communicate the comestible mixture from the bag and/or the compartment through a hole in the lid. The pressure vessel, the system and/or the method has a compressor or other source of a compressed gas a hose to communicate the compressed gas from the compressor into the compartment. Further, the hose communicates the compressed gas to a freezing chamber and/or a cooling chamber of the machine. The pressure vessel, the system and/or the method has a tube to communicate the comestible mixture from the bag to the freezing chamber and/or the cooling chamber.
US08777054B2	Apparatus for dispensing solid articles and methods for using same An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly includes a manifold and a door assembly. The manifold has a plenum and an inlet port in fluid communication with the plenum. The door assembly includes a door panel and a shield. The door panel is selectively moveable between a closed position, wherein the door panel restricts airflow through the inlet port, and an open position, wherein the door panel permits airflow through the inlet port. The shield defines a pocket to receive the door panel in the open position and thereby reduce or restrict flow of air behind the door panel.
US08777052B2	Container and container closure The present invention relates to container and a closure for mounting on the container, the container of the type comprising a container body having a base and a side wall with a top edge defining a container opening opposite the base. The container further comprises a rim and a locking rib which projects from a free end of the rim, and the closure comprises a top wall and a skirt having a closure flange which projects from a free end of the closure wall for snap engagement under the locking rib when the closure is inserted into the container opening. The present invention ensures that a strong seal is maintained between the closure and the container so that the container can be opened and closed frequently without leakages between the container and the closure.
US08777051B2	Fuel venting systems having protective membranes Venting systems for use with fuel tank systems are described. An example venting system includes a membrane disposed within a vent line or an emission control component to form a passageway through the venting system. The membrane is coated with a hydrophobic material to substantially prevent the flow of liquid and permit the flow of vapors or gases through the passageway.
US08777050B1	Vent assembly for collapsible storage tank In one embodiment, a vent assembly for mounting on a collapsible storage tank is provided including a flange member having a central hub, and a flange extending outwardly from the central hub; a top sealing layer of flexible fabric having a hole for receiving the central hub and mounted at least partially over the flange and extending outwardly beyond the flange; an intermediate sealing layer of flexible fabric having a hole aligned with the opening in the hub and mounted beneath the flange and extending outwardly there beyond and bonded to the top sealing layer beyond the flange; and a wall of the collapsible storage tank formed from flexible fabric material, the intermediate sealing layer bonded to the wall.
US08777049B2	Lid having circumferential rim with plurality of ribs A lid for securing to the brim of a container, the lid including a container closure having a disk shaped member with a periphery for mating with the brim of the container. The periphery includes annular inner and outer side walls with at least one annular rib disposed on each of the inner and outer side walls. The ribs of the annular walls form a gripping area to secure the lid to the container for preventing leaks and accidental spillage. A top wall interconnects the inner and outer side walls and includes visual cues for viewing the brim of the container when the lid is affixed to the brim. The lid additionally includes a pronounced wedge shaped sipping spout projecting upwards from the container closure. The container closure includes a circular indented channel for stacking one lid covered cup over another with additional stability provided by the sipping spout.
US08777043B2	Storage container and container system A storage container system has a plurality of container bases and a plurality of lids for the bases. Each of the bases has a bottom, a continuous side wall extending up from the bottom and terminating at a top edge, an interior storage space within the side wall above the bottom, and an open top bounded by the top edge. Each of the lids has a main panel section, a perimeter skirt assembly around the main panel section, a top side, and a bottom side. Each of the plurality of lids is configured to close off the open top of any one of the plurality of container bases by connecting the perimeter skirt assembly to the side wall near the open top. A first snap structure is provided on each of the plurality of lids. Each first snap structure has one component configured to connect to a mating lid component of the first snap structure on any other one of the plurality of lids to connect any two of the plurality of lids together. A second snap structure different from the first snap structure is also provided on each of the plurality of lids. The second snap structure is configured to connect to a mating base component on the bottom of the base to connect any one of the plurality of lids to any one of the plurality of container bases.
US08777042B2	Disposable liner for a cooler A liner for use with a cooler is provided comprising a body forming a containment space. An opening is connected to the containment space, wherein the opening comprises two pairs of opposed sides with adjacent sides connected together by corners, the opening thereby forming either a rectangular or square shape. Further, at least one of the corners has an extended portion extending outwardly from the respective sides associated with the corner. In some embodiments, two or more of the corners has an extended portion extending outwardly from the respective sides associated with the corner. In other embodiments, the liner has a straight edge where none of the corners have an extended portion extending outwardly from the respective sides associated with the corners.
US08777037B2	Container for a dispenser A device 10 for selectively dispensing ones of multiple fluids, preferably cleaning agents, is disclosed. The device includes a reservoir 50 that holds a diluent “D” therein and a housing 20 that includes a main body segment 22 and a head segment 26. A container assembly 100 may be held between the main body and head segments 22, 26. The container assembly may include at least one container body 105, 110, 112, 114, 116. Each container body 105, 110, 112, 114, 116 houses a concentrate “C,” for example, a concentrated form of a cleaning or other agent therein. The diluent “D” and concentrates “C” are kept separate from each other, whereby no end use product is stored in the device 10. Instead, end use product is mixed on demand during dispensation.
US08777036B2	Reservoir for a fuel tank Reservoirs for fuel tanks, which can be filled via an opening that can be closed by a closing element, are already known. Such a closing element interacts with a sealing seat and is arranged on a bearing that is located in the region of the opening and is fixed to an edge area of the opening by at least two struts. In prior art, the opening, with the bearing and the struts, is often produced as a single-piece together with the reservoir and the base by injection molding. A disadvantage thereof is that the struts can undergo material shrinkage during production, which leads to a tension of the struts between the edge area of the opening and the bearing. This can lead to an irregular deformation and hence to an uneven sealing seat, so that the closing element does not seal in a tight manner and that the valve has a leak. in the reservoir according to the invention, the sealing of the opening is improved by at least one strut not having a rectilinear form, thus obtaining elastic expansion compensation.
US08777035B2	Wall mounting apparatus and method A self-supporting apparatus can be placed in a pre-set opening in an existing wall substrate. A frame assembly is configured with a perimeter that corresponds to the thickness of the wall substrate. The edge of the frame thus can be in fitting contact with the substrate opening. Flanges on opposite sides of the frame extend in the planar direction of the wall substrate to be in contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the substrate to maintain the frame in position in the wall and to strengthen the structure. The frame can include appropriate mounting portions for mounting electrical boxes or low voltage devices within the wall.
US08777032B2	Child-resistant cap and container assembly A cap includes a top wall, an outer peripheral edge, a first section, and a second section. A skirt depends from the outer peripheral edge. The skirt includes an attached end, a free end, a plurality of slots, and a plurality of apertures. Each aperture is spaced-apart from the free end of the skirt. The top wall has a first configuration and a second configuration. When the top wall is in the first configuration, the first section is generally planer and the second section is generally arcuate. When the top wall is in the first configuration, the skirt extends generally perpendicularly to the first section to generally engage at least a portion of a container. When the top wall is in the second configuration, the free end of the skirt extends radially outwardly from the attached end thereof to allow the cap to be removed from the container.
US08777031B2	Stopper device comprising a supporting cap, and container device provided with such a device The invention relates to a stopper device for a container having a neck with a Δ axis. Said device comprises an elastomer stopper, a plastic cover that can cover both the neck and the stopper in place in the neck and comprises means for locking on the neck, and a cap adapted to the top of the cover by means of a central segment and provided with a peripheral supporting edge connected to the central segment by at least one connecting runout. According to the invention, the connecting runout is elastically deformable such that, under the effect of an axial effort, it enables an axial movement of the supporting edge from a raised position (R) to a lowered position, via an intermediate position (I), and, in a first deformation range corresponding to a movement of the supporting edge between the raised position (R) and the intermediate position, has a rigidity K1 which is higher than the rigidity K2 of the runout in a second deformation range corresponding to a displacement of the supporting edge between the intermediate position and the lowered position.
US08777024B2	Portable organizer An array of storage receivers such as bins of various sizes supported by a transportable stand to which the receivers may be removably attached. The stand may have a handle for carrying, and wheels for movably supporting the stand and the array of storage receivers.
US08777019B2	Secure stow go wine rack The portable beverage rack of the present invention is a generally square or rectangular receptacle which may safely store one or more bottles in u-shaped channels which cradle the bottles and prevent movement of the bottles while in transit or while travelling on a boat or an RV. The u-shaped channels may contain a rubber pad on the inside surface to prevent sliding, rolling or other lateral movement of the bottles. The portable beverage rack also contains a securement mechanism, such as a strap, buckle or band which extends over the top of the bottles to prevent vertical movement of the bottles. Additionally, the rack includes means to attach the rack to a wall or other vertical surface using a separate wall mounted base plate.
US08777013B1	Packaging for pharmaceuticals including contraceptives A package for pharmaceuticals such as contraceptives has a mold having a plurality of indentations arranged in a predetermined manner. The indentations are arranged in four circular patterns, each pattern being located in one of four quadrants defined by internal perforated boundaries. A lidding cover is adhered to the mold. The lidding cover has printed material that identifies the locations of the indentations and the internal perforated boundaries of the four quadrants.
US08777011B2	Capsule package with moisture barrier A package for storing an aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation comprises a capsule adapted to contain the aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation, and a moisture barrier around the capsule. The moisture barrier comprises a material that is resistant to moisture passage, whereby the moisture barrier reduces the amount of moisture in contact with the aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation so that the aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation may be aerosolized when the capsule is opened. In one version, the moisture barrier comprises a metal.
US08777009B2	Packing structure for a thin display device A packing structure for a liquid crystal display device includes a packing box for storing the liquid crystal display device and shock-absorbing members. The shock-absorbing members are stored in the packing box together with the liquid crystal display device so as to be interposed between the liquid crystal display device and the packing box. A side wall of a groove of the shock-absorbing member has a plurality of shock-absorbing surfaces with the gap with the display panel larger in the inside of the display panel than in the outside of the display panel. A central shock-absorbing member is disposed on the inside of the display panel deeper than the shock-absorbing face. The gap between the central shock-absorbing member and the display panel is larger than that between the shock-absorbing face and the display panel.
US08777007B2	Packaging box for liquid crystal glass The invention relates to the field of packaging, and more particularly to a packaging box for liquid crystal glass. The packaging box for liquid crystal glass includes a box body; the box body is internally provided with buffer blocks which are made of material different from that of the box body and have buffer performance superior to that of the box body. The packaging box for liquid crystal glass of the invention is of a separated structure, the box body and the buffer blocks are respectively made of different materials, the buffer blocks are made of material with good buffer performance, and the box body is mainly used for fixing the buffer blocks and ensuring the strength of the whole box body; thus, the box body is made of ordinary plastic material and injection molded without being made of expanded buffer material with buffer effect and high cost, thereby reducing the cost of the packaging box.
US08777006B2	Patty manager and method The present invention provides a patty manager having a dispensing tray including one or more dispensing regions for receiving surgical patties, and a recovery tray having a plurality of recovery regions for receiving surgical patties. Each dispensing region may include a dispensing indicia located, and each recovery region can include a recovery indicia, which may correspond to a substantially similar dispensing indicia of the dispensing tray. A string guide may be disposed about at least a portion of the dispensing regions for the organization and management of the patty strings. A gripping tool may further be coupled to one of the dispensing or recovery trays.
US08777005B2	Hex key holder A hex key holder is provided with a rectangular body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a rear surface, a right side, and a left side, the rectangular body including a plurality of first channels longitudinally penetrating the rectangular body and being adjacent to the rear surface, an intermediate transverse groove formed on the front surface, a plurality of second channels longitudinally penetrating a lower portion of the rectangular body from the groove to the bottom surface and being adjacent to the front surface, a plurality of first holes formed on the top surface adjacent to the first channels, and a plurality of second holes formed on the bottom surface between the first channels and the second channels; and a ring pivotably disposed on the left side. Each first or second channel retains a hex key.
US08777004B2	Compressible staple cartridge comprising alignment members A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.
US08777000B2	Centering element for container holders on container processing machines, container holder, and container processing machines comprising such container holders Disclosed is a centering element for use with container holders or turntables on container processing machines, comprising a centering cone that has a cone-type or taper-type centering surface for receiving and centering each container on the bottom of the container.
US08776999B2	Articulating frame for continuous conveyor The present invention relates to an apparatus having an articulating frame for conveying articles, as well as self-propelled articulating frames.
US08776992B2	Feeder apparatus for metal strip A feeder apparatus includes: a reciprocating block moved reciprocally when a metal strip with collar-equipped through-holes is fed; a moving block disposed above the reciprocating block and connected to a connecting member so as to move in a movement direction of the reciprocating block; a pin block that moves together with the moving block and on which feed pins inserted into the through-holes are provided; an up-down cam unit that moves the pin block up and down; and a cam that is rotated by converting reciprocal movement of the reciprocating block to rotation about the width direction of the metal strip and includes a channel of a predetermined shape, wherein a cam follower inserted into the channel of the cam is provided on the moving block.
US08776988B2	Transfer apparatus for transferring an item A transfer apparatus for transferring an item includes a rail (3) forming an endless track (4) along which the item (100) is transferred, a transporter (41, 42) which is movable along the rail and includes at least one gripper (10) for gripping the item, a driver (7) for moving the transporter along the rail, wherein the transporter includes at least two carriers (8) engaging the rail and located at a distance from each other, neighboring carriers are coupled to each other by a coupler (9), at least one coupler is carrying at least one gripper, the rail includes a first face (12) and a second face (13), each carrier includes a first engage member (14) and a second engage (15) member (15) engaging the first face (12) and a third engage member (16) engaging the second face (13), the engage members of each carrier are positioned relative to each other such that the engage members form a triangle.
US08776979B2	Parking lock apparatus Disclosed is a parking lock apparatus which can prevent an electric actuator from being accessed from the outside of the vehicle, and thereby can prevent the function of the parking lock apparatus from being lowered as well as can reduce the production cost in comparison with the conventional parking lock apparatus. The parking lock apparatus comprises an electric actuator 11 to be activated in response to the shift operation, and a parking lock apparatus 12 capable of selectively taking a parking lock maintained state to have the stoppage state of a vehicle 1 maintained or a parking lock released state to have the stoppage state of the vehicle 1 released. The electric actuator 11 is disposed between a first housing 1H partly constituting an engine 2 for generating a power and a second housing 2H partly constituting a transaxle 3 for transmitting the power generated by the engine 2.
US08776977B2	Drive system for mobile robot arm A drive system for each arm of a mobile robot, each drive system including a drive motor and an adjustable clutch system interconnected between its associated arm and the drive motor and having a high friction locked position for enabling direct drive of the arm by the drive motor and a reduced friction slip position for enabling manual movement of the associated arm without back-driving the drive motor.
US08776975B2	Reduced stress pawl and ratchet tooth for a one-way clutch A one-way clutch with an outer race and an inner race is disclosed. One of the races includes at least one pawl and an engagement member for holding the at least one pawl in engagement with ratchet teeth on the other race. The contact surface of the at least one pawl or the ratchet teeth is an arcuate shape for improved load distribution. The arcuate contact surface has a radius of curvature that is greater than a radius of curvature at corners adjacent to the arcuate contact surface.
US08776971B2	Stator and one-way clutch assembly for a torque converter The present invention broadly comprises a stator and clutch assembly in a torque converter. The stator has a segment radially disposed between stator blades and a stator axis. The one-way clutch has a plate connected to a hub. The segment forms a portion of the clutch and the stator is axially displaceable to control operation of the clutch. A displacement element urges the stator in a first axial direction. The stator is arranged to move in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction, in response to pressure from fluid in the torque converter. In some aspects, the displacement element is selected from the group consisting of a coil spring and a wave spring. In some aspects, the one-way clutch is arranged to disengage when the stator is sufficiently displaced in the first direction and to engage when the stator is sufficiently displaced in the second direction.
US08776962B2	Electromagnetic suspension system An electromagnetic suspension system uses a linear motor having coils disposed around the outer periphery of a stator and permanent magnets disposed along the inner periphery of a mover. Wiring is routed through a gap between a first rod and a second rod. Thus, contact between the wiring and the second rod is avoided, and the wiring is protected. Consequently, it is possible to ensure reliability for the electric system of the electromagnetic suspension system.
US08776960B2	Pneumatic brake cylinder The invention relates to a pneumatic brake cylinder including a piston for transferring the pneumatic pressure to a brake, and a device for automatic adjustment in the event of wear of the brake linings, the device comprising a spindle, an adjusting nut, and a control sleeve that can be engaged with the adjusting nut. According to the invention, the control sleeve is embodied as a composite part including a metallic coupling ring and a sliding sleeve of a plastic material.
US08776959B2	Vehicle disc brake A vehicle disc brake includes pad retainers. The pad retainer includes retainer portions disposed on torque bearing faces, pad spring-back pieces projected from radially inner sides of the retainer portions and disposed on lug piece movably supporting faces, and a connecting piece connecting radially outer sides of the retainer portions. The pad spring-back piece includes a spring-back portion extended from a base end portion thereof and inclined gradually radially inwards from the base end portion towards a distal end portion, so that the distal end portion is allowed to be brought into abutment with the lug piece movably supporting face, in such a state that the lug piece is assembled to the pad guide portion via the pad retainer and a pad abutment portion extended radially outwards from the spring-back portion to be brought into abutment with a radially inner face of the lug piece.
US08776952B2	Thermal management system for turbofan engines A heat exchange system for use in operating equipment in which a working fluid is utilized needing a heat exchange system to provide air and working fluid heat exchanges to cool the working fluid at selectively variable rates in airstreams. The system comprises a plurality of heat exchangers including a first heat exchanger in the plurality of heat exchangers that is mounted with respect to the equipment so as to permit corresponding portions of the airstreams to pass through the core thereof during at least some such uses of the equipment. Also, a second heat exchanger is mounted with respect to the equipment so as to selectively permit corresponding portions of the airstreams to pass through the core thereof during such uses of the equipment. A core actuator is mounted with respect to the second heat exchanger to selectively increase or reduce the passing of those corresponding portions of the airstreams through the core.
US08776943B2	Electric power steering device An electric power steering device includes: a worm shaft including a first end portion and a second end portion; a worm wheel; a joint; and an urging member. The first end portion includes: a first tubular portion; a diameter enlargement permission portion to allow enlargement of a diameter of the first tubular portion; and an external teeth portion. The joint includes: a second tubular portion; and an internal teeth portion capable of engaging the external teeth portion. The electric power steering device further includes a diameter enlargement member which is arranged in the first tubular portion and which enlarges a part of the first tubular portion in an axial direction thereof to press the internal teeth portion toward the external teeth portion.
US08776941B2	Road finishing machine with adjustable control panel A road finishing machine includes a control panel that can be selectively swiveled about a first swivel axis and a second swivel axis, where one operational control each is provided for the first and the second swivel axes for separately unlocking and/or locking a swiveling capacity around the respective swivel axis. One counter surface is fixed to the control panel for each of the operational controls. The swivel axes can be unlocked by pulling the respective operational control in the direction of the respective counter surface, and the control panel can be swiveled into the same direction.
US08776939B2	Working vehicle An engine and a transmission case are connected to configure a drive unit. Left and right lower portions of the engine and left and right lower portions of the transmission case are supported on an underframe by lower anti-vibration mounts. A lateral frame is provided in a form bridging left and right upper frames. An upper portion of the transmission case is supported by an upper anti-vibration mount on a middle portion of the lateral frame.
US08776929B2	Hybrid power system with bidirectional machine at flywheel A hybrid power system for a vehicle which may include an internal combustion engine and a supplemental energy system for converting the mechanical energy generated by the engine to electrical energy and storing it as opportunity provides; and using the stored electrical energy to augment engine output as necessary. The supplemental energy system may include a motor-generator engaged with a flywheel.
US08776923B2	Air guide structure for saddle type vehicle An air guide structure for a saddle type vehicle by which influence of exhaust air from a radiator on a fuel tank can be reduced effectively. A fuel tank is formed with a tank extension section extending to above the upper end of the radiator. A front wall of the tank extension section is inclined forward by obliquely extending rearwardly downward. A front lower cover disposed forwardly of the radiator and rearwardly of a front wheel is provided. The front lower cover is provided with a radiator opening section having a plurality of openings for guiding airflow to the radiator, and with a fuel tank opening section for guiding the airflow to the fuel tank inclusive of the tank extension section.
US08776920B2	Rear protection structure for vehicle A rear protection structure is provided for a vehicle which is equipped with an engine and a rear wheel-driving motor each as a traveling-driving power source of the vehicle and in which the rear wheel-driving motor is arranged between left and right rear wheels and of the vehicle, and a fuel tank for the engine and the rear wheel-driving motor are arranged adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A rear suspension supporting the rear wheel-driving motor has a suspension member with an octothorpe-like shape, and the rear wheel-driving motor and high-voltage lines connected to the rear wheel-driving motor are arranged within a space enclosed by the suspension member.
US08776915B2	Locking clutch for downhole motor A locking clutch to selectively transmit torque from a stator of a downhole tool to a rotor of the downhole tool includes at least one locking pawl radially between the rotor and the stator and configured to engage at least one recess formed in an outer periphery of the rotor, and a biasing mechanism configured to bias the at least one locking pawl into an engaged position. The at least one locking pawl includes a load path, two pivot axes, and a mass center. The at least one locking pawl transmits force from the stator to the rotor along the load path when in the engaged position, and centrifugal force urges the at least one locking pawl into a disengaged position when the rotor is rotated about one of the two pivot axes above a disengagement speed.
US08776908B2	Folding implement frame with weight transfer A folding implement frame having seven sections in a use position and nine sections when folded. The frame design allows a frame having a width of greater than 27 meters to be folded into a transport position having a width of less than eight meters and a height of less than six meters. The hydraulic system transfers weight to the center frame section during folding and unfolding to enhance stability. The hydraulic system uses accumulators to minimize the amount of oil reduction in the tractor reservoir resulting from extension of the hydraulic cylinders of the implement. Implement raise and lower cycle times are minimized by a helper cylinder to lift the frame main section when the entire implement weight is on the main section and allowing a smaller cylinder to lift the frame main section in the use position for shorter cycle times to raise and lower the implement.
US08776906B2	System and method for preventing the incidence of forest fires over large areas A wildfire prevention system is described. The system includes a data measurement station for measuring environmental factors relevant for determining the likelihood of a wildfire in a prescribed area, a control station configured to receive data measured by the data measurement station and to determine the likelihood of a wildfire by comparison of the data received with predetermined data values representing likelihood of a wildfire, the predetermined data values including data values for each of the environmental factors individually and in combination with other environmental factors, and a moisture induction system including a water reservoir, configured for induction of moisture in the prescribed area on activation by the control station on the determination of the likelihood of a wildfire in the prescribed area. A method of preventing a wildfire is also described.
US08776905B2	Device for preventing fire in battery pack used for electric vehicle Disclosed is a device for preventing fire in a battery pack used a battery powered vehicle. In particular, a battery pack housing is installed and configured to cover the battery pack, and includes an inlet and an outlet to circulate air therein. A fire sensor is provided in the battery pack housing and detects/senses gas when a fire occurs in the battery pack. In response, a damper installed in each of the inlet and the outlet, is configured to selectively open or close the inlet and the outlet based upon signals from a controller that is configured to send opening signals or a closing signals to the damper depending on whether the fire sensor detects gas or not.
US08776902B2	Fire prevention equipment and spraying method Fire-extinguishing agent supplying equipment pressurizes a water-based fire-extinguishing agent and supplies the agent via a pipe; and the water-based fire-extinguishing agent is pressurized and supplied via the pipe to an electrification spray head installed in a protection area A, and the jetted particles of the fire-extinguishing agent are electrified and sprayed from the electrification spray head. A pulsed or alternating electrification voltage is applied to the electrification spray head from a voltage application unit 15, and an external electric field generated by applying the voltage between a water-side electrode unit and an induction electrode unit is applied to the fire-extinguishing agent in a jetting process to electrify the jetted particles.
US08776901B2	Prevention or mitigation of steel corrosion caused by combustion gas Recovering oil and gas from subterranean oil and gas reservoirs using gas injection can serve an additional purpose of capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide. This can be accomplished where the feed gas for the gas injection is, at least in part, carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide capture and sequestration process. Corrosion of steel in a gas transportation system due to the presence of carbon dioxide and water and oxygen may be prevented or at least mitigated by employing a corrosion inhibitor effective at preventing or mitigating steel corrosion in the presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The corrosion inhibitors may incorporate alkyl succinic acids, alkyl succinic anhydrides, and trimer acids.
US08776900B2	Methods and apparatuses for enhanced in situ hydrocarbon production A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an in situ formation. The process includes the steps of injecting solvent though an injection well into an underground extraction chamber having a hydrocarbon extraction interface, warming the hydrocarbons at the extraction interface to cause the hydrocarbons to flow downwardly by gravity drainage. Barrier gases naturally emerge in the chamber as a result of the extraction process and are removed from the extraction interface to improve heat transfer from said solvent to said interface. The last step is to recover liquids such as hydrocarbons and water through a production well. The invention provides a separate flow path to remove hydrocarbon gases from the chamber at a preferred location. The preferred location is near the top of the chamber where the accumulated barrier gases help to limit the heat loss and can also provide a barrier to help maintain chamber integrity and confinement.
US08776894B2	Offshore universal riser system An offshore universal riser system may include a valve module which selectively permits and prevents fluid flow through a flow passage extending longitudinally through a riser string. An anchoring device may releasably secure the valve module in the passage. A method of constructing a riser system may include the steps of installing the valve module in the passage, and installing at least one annular seal module in the passage. The annular seal module may prevent fluid flow through an annular space between the riser string and a tubular string positioned in the passage. Drilling methods may include injecting relatively low density fluid compositions into the annular space, and selectively varying a restriction to flow through a subsea choke in a drilling fluid return line. The riser string, including housings for the various modules and external control systems, may be dimensioned for installation through a rotary table.
US08776893B2	Apparatus and method for processing fluids from a well Provided is a system, including a first module (35b) configured to process fluid from a well, wherein the first module (35b) has an extension conduit (5b), having a connection that is coupleable to a central mandrel of a manifold (5), a processing device arranged in a region surrounding the extension conduit (5b), a processing input (18a), and a processing output (19a). Further provided is a method of processing well fluids, including diverting fluids from a bore of a manifold (1) to a processing module (35b), wherein the processing module (35b) is coupled to a mandrel of the manifold (5), processing the fluids in the processing module (35b), and returning the fluids to a flowpath (19a) for recovery.
US08776891B2	Connection system for subsea flow interface equipment A connection system for connecting flow interface equipment to a subsea manifold is disclosed. The connection system relates particularly to a connection apparatus adapted to land a conduit means on a subsea manifold in a first stage of the connection and to connect a conduit means of the connection apparatus to a choke body of the manifold in a second stage of the connection.
US08776888B2	Valve for wellbore applications The present invention provides a robust, durable and reliable cylindrical valve having closable, radially extending openings for use in cementing, injection, including hydraulic fracturing, and production in wells having high pressures and large pressure differences. The valve may comprise scraping rings in order to remove deposits and the like when it is to be closed after use. Magnets or other suitable means indicates whether the valve is in an open or closed position.
US08776884B2	Formation treatment system and method A formation treatment system includes an annulus spanning member having one or more openings therein, the one or more openings incorporating a degradable material. A tubular having one or more ports therein in fluid communication with the one or more openings. A sleeve capable of isolating or communicating the one or more ports with an ID of the tubular. A method for effecting precision formation treatment is included.
US08776882B2	Engineered fibers for well treatments Mixtures of fibers and solid particles are effective for curing fluid losses and lost circulation in a subterranean well. Stiff fibers are more effective than flexible ones; however, mixtures of stiff and flexible fibers have a synergistic effect. The quantity and particle-size distribution of the solids are optimized according to the stiffness, dimensions and concentrations of fibers.
US08776877B2	Effective solvent extraction system incorporating electromagnetic heating A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises pre-heating by exposure to electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source, injecting through at least one injection well a solvent into the reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons contained in the pre-conditioned portion, and producing through at least one production well a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent. An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises at least one radio frequency antenna configured to transmit radio frequency energy into a subterranean reservoir, a power source to provide power to the at least one radio frequency antenna, at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent from a solvent supply source into the subterranean reservoir to lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons, and at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir.
US08776876B2	Expandable device for use in a well bore An expandable device comprising a plurality of expandable cells. The cells may be bistable cells or other types of cells that are expanded from a contracted position towards an expanded position. Additionally, the cells may be combined with locking mechanisms to hold the structure in an expanded position.

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